Residency Program

The Residency Training Program in Radiation Oncology is an integrated program consisting of the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, Memorial Medical Center of Long Beach, and City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte.

All four hospitals have state of the art radiation oncology departments totaling nine linear accelerators (2 are TomoTherapy), four simulators (of which two are CT simulators), a full range of interstitial and intracavitary applicators (for use with Iridium 192 and Iodine 125), and dedicated computerized treatment planning systems. Stereotactic radiosurgery, 3-D conformal radiation therapy, and, most recently, Tomotherapy are available at Memorial Medical Center of Long Beach, City of Hope National Medical Center, and UCI Medical Center. Total Body Irradiation (TBI) is performed at City of Hope National Medical Center. Brachytherapy including high dose rate (HDR), low dose rate (LDR), interstitial, intracavitary, Mammosite,  TheraSphere is taught at Memorial Medical Center of Long Beach, City of Hope National Medical Center, and UCI Medical Center. Experience with pediatric oncology is obtained at City of Hope and Memorial Medical Center of Long Beach.

The patient population is broadly based and includes the full range of all malignancies. Areas of special interest include gynecologic oncology, neuro-oncology, pediatric oncology, head and neck cancer, and a variety of high dose technologies, such as IMRT, IGRT, brachytherapy and conformal therapy.

Full-time faculty and staff at the four hospitals including thirteen radiation oncologists, six physicists, and three radiation biologists. 8 months of full time research experience is provided, usually during the 2nd or 3rd year of training in order to round out the full spectrum of training experience.

Residency Program Description:  To see the latest description of the residency program in Adobe Acrobat format, please click HERE.  For the latest written curriculum overview (2006), click HERE (note - there is also a 2007 draft). For the latest update on residency accreditation (through the ACGME), interested parties are invited to inquire with the Program Director.

How to apply: We are planning to recruit for 2 positions through the NRMP Match 2009 to begin July 2010. We will be accepting applications primarily through ERAS although if there is no other alternative we will accept applications sent directly to us. We will want an ERAS or Universal Application, Personal Statement, medical school and undergraduate transcripts, USMLE transcript, Dean's Letter/MSPE when available, and at least 3 letters of reference sent directly to us. For more information, e-mail the Program Director by clicking here. For a Universal Application please click here. Correspondence should be addressed to the Program Director, Attention: Residency Recruitment. If you have any questions, please call us.

Information for applicants already invited to interview may be found here.

For additional information for international medical graduates, please click HERE. Note: the University does not sponsor J-1 or H-1 visas for post-graduate training with the exception of J-1 visas for graduates of Canadian medical schools.

The UCI Radiation Oncology Resident Resources page is HERE.

A website for Radiation Oncology Residency Program Directors is HERE.

Medical Students
 

Contact the Medical Education Office. Most of the Department faculty are available to UC Irvine SOM students (any level) for "tag alongs."

For 3rd and 4th year students a more in-depth experience is available as an externship.
Brief description:
Elective: Radiation Oncology 680J
Duration: 2-12 weeks
Number of students: 3 students maximum
Prerequisites: Minimum 4th year medical school status.
Coordinator: Tanya Tran

For some recommendations for medical students interested in careers in Radiation Oncology, click HERE.
Faculty contact: Jeffrey V. Kuo, M.D.

For some FAQs on the field from Student Doctor Network, click here.

Course Objectives: Objective of the elective is to acquaint the student with the role of radiation therapy in the management of malignant diseases.

Course Description: Principal objective is to provide clinical experience with the evaluation and treatment of cancer patients. Secondary goal is to acquaint the student with the methodologies of modern cancer therapy. Emphasized will be methods of application of radiation therapy both externally (teletherapy) and internally (brachytherapy). Opportunities to participate in clinical or laboratory research are available contingent upon availability.

The Department of Radiation Oncology welcomes students who wish either to broaden their experience in outpatient oncology or radiation oncology specifically, but students might like to be aware that the Department will not have any open positions for July 2008 (i.e. the Department is not currently recruiting for new residents).

More information is available through UC Irivine School of Medicine's Medical Education website - for the externship description in the Elective Handbook, click HERE

Extra-mural students:  we may still have a few rotation slots open in the upcoming months.  We have learned that UCI is not accepting international physicians for observation electives.  For information on how to sign up for a rotation, click HERE.

For all students already signed up for a rotation, for some orientation information, please click HERE.

Undergraduate Training Opportunities

The Department of Radiation Oncology offers opportunities for UCI undergraduates to learn more about cancer and cancer therapy through Bio 197 Special Study in Biological Sciences or Bio 199 Independent Study in Biological Sciences Research. Instructions on how to sign up are available through the Biological Sciences Student Affairs Office (824-5318). Currently the faculty contact is Dr. Kuo (714-456-5508) or e-mail jvkuo@uci.edu.

How to sign up:
a) Inquiries to Dr. Kuo
b) Course number from the Class Schedule
c) For Bio 197 (Independent study) the instructor of record will be Villareal
d) For Bio 199 there is a course number for Dr. Kuo
e) Make an appointment to see Dr. Kuo at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center to discuss Independent Study or Independent Study Research Options.
f) If everything is set, there is some paperwork to take care of. The student picks up a Bio 199 packet from the Bio Sci Student Affairs Office, which explains the steps involved. Bio 199 students at the Medical Center are required to complete all the safety, conduct, etc training before starting research. Also, students should have already enrolled in or have concurrent enrollment in Bio 194 Research Ethics and Conduct.
g) The ADD card is signed at the Bio Sci Student Affairs office File and the Abstract of Project is filed with the Biological Sciences Student Affairs Office.

For non-UCI students:

a) Inquiries to Dr. Kuo
b) Either sign up as a UCI student (summer session), or
c) Inquire with your own school whether UCI faculty can supervise student research at UCI for credit.

Medical Dosimetry Program:

The Division of Medical Physics offers training opportunities in medical dosimetry in the form of a 1 year program leading towards  certification with the Medical Dosimetry Certification Board.  For the latest information, click HERE.  For an application, click HERE. Note - as of 9/08 the Department is not currently taking applications to the Dosimetry Program.

Radiation Oncology Journal Clubs at UCI:

As part of the residency training program, faculty and residents review the literature pertaining to current issues and controversies.  For the latest schedule and list of articles to be reviewed, please click HERE.