Residency

Our Residency Program

The Department of Radiation Oncology offers a variety of academic training opportunities for students, physicians, and researchers. Our residency program provides foundational education and clinical experience for physicians entering the radiation oncology specialty.

Medical students from the UTMB School of Medicine rotate through the department to learn about the field and participate in research projects. Our medical physicists have led international training sessions on advanced radiotherapy techniques, including IMRT treatment planning. Radiation therapists receive hands-on training and instruction from our certified therapists in collaboration with Galveston College’s accredited Radiation Therapy Program.

Program Overview

The residency training program at UTMB offers a variety of unique learning opportunities to prepare graduates for successful careers in radiation oncology, whether in academic medicine or private practice. Residents gain broad clinical exposure through rotations with faculty who specialize in different areas of expertise. As they progress through the program, residents are given increasing independence in clinical decision-making, culminating in a senior service year that provides significant autonomy with appropriate supervision.

Residents are trained in a wide range of modern radiotherapy techniques, including Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), and High-Dose-Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy.

Through a number of unique partnerships, the program offers patient care experience across multiple clinical settings — from our large tertiary referral center in Galveston to community-oriented hospitals within the Houston area. More recently, residents have gained additional opportunities to rotate at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, where they receive specialized exposure to pediatric oncology and advanced modalities such as proton therapy.

Recognizing the balance required of residents to provide high-quality patient care while maintaining academic engagement, UTMB provides protected educational time. Residents participate in structured didactic sessions led by our physics and radiobiology faculty, as well as by clinical faculty and peers. Regular educational activities include new patient conferences, journal clubs, and morbidity and mortality conferences. This dedicated time is essential for mastering the complexity of the field.

Residents also participate in multidisciplinary tumor boards across all disease sites, gaining insight into the collaborative approach that defines modern cancer care. Opportunities are available to engage in both clinical and translational research projects. Submission of research to national meetings—such as those sponsored by The American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), The American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO), The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and others are highly encouraged and monies to attend such events are available to present such work.