Radiation oncology resident call responsibilities + clinical rotations at Tufts Medical Center
Residents in the Radiation Oncology Residency Program complete clinical rotations at Tufts Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and some rotations at the University of Massachusetts. Pediatric rotations are conducted in collaboration with Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. This variety of clinical sites ensures residents gain broad exposure to diverse patient populations and complex cases.
Call duties are assigned in one-week blocks, with residents taking a maximum of one week of consecutive call at a time. PGY-2 residents do not participate on calls during their first two months, receiving focused training before beginning call responsibilities. Call coverage extends to both Tufts Medical Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Throughout the four-year program, residents take approximately 24 weeks of call. There is no in-house call coverage.
While on call, residents and their assigned attending physician manage all after-hours radiation oncology needs at their institution. This includes handling phone calls, performing in-house consultations and arranging urgent or emergent radiation treatments. These duties teach residents to manage common and critical clinical situations such as radiation side effects, brain metastases, malignant spinal cord compression, malignant hemorrhage, painful metastases and airway obstruction.
The program strictly complies with ACGME regulations governing resident work hours to maintain a safe and balanced training environment.
Important details about rotations and call responsibilities:
- Residents complete rotations at Tufts Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the University of Massachusetts
- Pediatric rotations are offered in partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Call shifts are scheduled in one-week blocks, with no more than one week of consecutive calls
- PGY-2 residents are excused from call during their first two months and receive dedicated training before starting call duties
- Call coverage spans both Tufts Medical Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Residents take approximately 24 weeks of call throughout the four-year residency
- On call, residents manage after-hours radiation oncology needs, including phone consultations, in-house evaluations and urgent radiation treatments
- Common clinical issues addressed on call include radiation side effects, brain metastases, spinal cord compression, bleeding, painful metastases and airway obstruction
- The program adheres strictly to ACGME work hour standards to ensure resident well-being and training quality
