Residency Details
Graduation Requirements
The UTHSCSA Medical Physics Residency is a two-year program. To complete the residency program, the resident must:
- Successfully complete eight (3 month) clinical rotations. The rotation schedule has been structured to include a comprehensive list of topics in radiation oncology physics. For each rotation, the resident is assigned a mentor from the physics staff and performs clinical tasks under the mentor’s direct supervision. A rotation is considered complete when all rotation competencies have been signed off by the mentor and resident, including an evaluation at the end of each rotation. Rotations cover topics such as:
- Radiation safety
- Linac QA
- CT simulation and QA
- HDR planning, delivery and QA
- LDR planning, delivery and QA
- SRS planning, delivery and QA
- Stereotactic Body radiotherapy planning, delivery and QA
- Total body irradiation planning, delivery and QA
- Total skin electron therapy planning, delivery and QA
- Image guided radiotherapy
- Conventional Treatment planning
- Radiation protection
- Ethics and professionalism
- Successfully complete the didactic courses on treatment planning techniques and the AAPM task group reviews.
- The Medical Physics resident must complete a learning module on ethics and professionalism as specified in AAPM Report 159. We use the ABR/ACR/RSNA/AAPM/ASTRO/ARR/ARS, Online Module on Ethics and Professionalism. In addition to the online course, we offer lectures on professionalism as well as leadership, billing and medical economics, and career development.
- Secure a passing grade on twenty one (21) monthly written exams on the assigned topics that are covered during each rotation.
- Complete the comprehensive oral examinations every 6 months.
- Attend a minimum of fifty teaching conferences such as the new patient QA conference and didactic lectures that are given by the medical faculty.
- Residents are required to teach a minimum of 2 lectures per year in one of our degree programs (medical physics program or medical dosimetry program).
- Complete twenty-four months of clinical training at which time a certificate of training will be awarded to the resident.
Didactic Training
Clinical conferences, seminars, small discussion groups, journal clubs and one-on-one instruction are all an integral part of our training program. Residents are required to take the didactic courses on treatment planning and AAPM task group report reviews.
Clinical Competencies
Clinical competency is evaluated by written and oral examinations and by mentor directed exercises throughout the clinical rotations. Written quizzes are given to the residents to help them pace their studying and to prepare them for part II of the ABR written examination.
Research Experience
The residents are expected to engage in clinical research projects with the goal of submitting the results of their work to an annual scientific meeting, typically AAPM or ASTRO. The residency is primarily focused on clinical training: however, residents are expected to engage in short research projects such that these projects promote critical thinking and acquisition of new skills.
Program Statistics
Each year we receive a large number of applications, primarily through the CAP system which is now the sole application pathway to our program. The admissions committee evaluates and ranks the applicants and invites the top candidates for an onsite interview. The program recruits one resident per year and has a total of two residents enrolled in the program.
| Graduation Yr | Applicants | Offers | Accepted | Graduates | Certified | Position Held |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 57 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Academic |
| 2022 | 65 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Academic |
| 2021 | NA | NA | NA | 1 | 1 | Clinical |
| 2020 | 44 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Clinical |
| 2019 | 97 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Clinical |
| 2018 | 82 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Academic |
| 2017 | 88 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Clinical |
| 2016 | 101 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Academic |
| 2015 | 165 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Academic |
| 2014 | 100 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | Clinical |
| 2013 | 54 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0+ | Clinical |
| 2012 | 74 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Clinical |
| 2011 | 95 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Clinical |
| 2010 | 31 | 1 | 1 | NA | NA | NA |
| 2009 | 12 | 2 | 2 | NA | NA | NA |
NA: Non Applicable
+ Resident elected not to take the oral exam for personal reasons