Clinical Training

Resident physicians rotate with through site-specific services under the direction of an attending physician with whom they are paired for 1-3 month blocks with single physician coverage. The majority of resident training occurs at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center (BCC), the affiliate cancer center of the University of Louisville Hospital. Resident physicians also see patients at Jewish Hospital and Norton Children’s Hospital (previously Kosair). Both are located downtown within walking distance of University Hospital. We also see referrals from the Louisville VAMC at the BCC.  In-home call is taken on a weekly basis.

On average, the BCC treats approximately 70-80 patients daily. The ACGME requires residents perform 450 external beam simulations over the course of residency, and all residents easily attain the required simulations, including the required number of pediatric patients and brachytherapy cases, usually by the end of the PGY-4 year.  We offer a strong education in advanced treatment modalities, with all services providing SBRT and SRS experience.  

Curriculum and Resident Education

• In the first two months of residency, PGY-2 residents complete an introductory physics course. PGY-2 residents also complete a Physics and Dosimetry curriculum during the year as required by the ABR. PGY-3, 4, and 5 residents are given 1-3 months of research/elective time per year based on seniority. This time can be used to rotate through other specialties (eg radiology, pathology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, etc), conduct research and/or pursue away rotations.  A partnership has been established with the University of Cincinnati for residents to rotate through the UC Proton Center during their PGY-4 or PGY-5 years.  
• Core Curriculum and Conferences - Resident didactic sessions are held twice weekly. The core curriculum is systems based, and in line with the ABR/ASTRO curriculum requirements. ASTRO conference and review course multimedia are supplemented by attending lectures and resident-driven didactic presentations.  Board review questions are integrated into the weekly curriculum to provide for a more active learning experience.  Topics include site-specific overviews, pertinent literature review, and review of in-service questions. The core curriculum is supplemented by weekly grand rounds lectures, monthly journal clubs, and quarterly morbidity and mortality conferences.  Bi-weekly case conferences are conducted on the monthly anatomic subsite of focus to further discuss work-up and management of patients to prepare residents for oral boards.  
• Physics – Based on recommendations and requirements from ABR, ASTRO, and NRC, the physics class for medical residents in radiation oncology consists of three parts. Every year, PGY 2 residents take part 1, which consists of a physics boot camp.  This boot camp consists of approximately 13 twice-weekly one hour classes and runs through July and August. After the boot camp class is completed, all residents take either part 2 or part 3 classes.  Parts 2 and 3 of the curriculum are alternated on a yearly basis, and offer a more fundamental and advanced physics curriculum respectively. This runs from September to June. During these sessions, class is held once weekly for 1.5 hours at a time.   
• Radiation Biology – The Radiation Biology course is taught by University faculty. This course is offered to PGY-2, 3, and 4 residents. This course is taught in conjunction with the Hall textbook. The radiobiology course coincides with the physics boot camp. 

Research and Leadership

Residents at the University of Louisville have experienced great academic success. Recently residents have won travel and research grants, published multiple papers, and presented several oral and poster presentations at national and international meetings. Our residents serve in multiple leadership positions within our medical school and on national resident committees.

Multidisciplinary Conferences

Radiation Oncology actively participates in multidisciplinary tumor boards and clinics held in conjunction with other oncologic subspecialties including pathology, radiology, medical oncology, and various surgical subspecialties.  Some specific subsite conferences are Adult and Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Gastrointestinal, Thoracic, Neuro-oncology, Head and Neck, Genitourinary, Sarcoma, and Gynecologic Oncology.

In addition to attending tumor boards and multidisciplinary clinics, resident physicians actively participate in several teaching conferences.  Residents each present at least one multidisciplinary Grand Rounds lecture and an annual morbidity and mortality presentation.  Journal club is held in coordination with the medical physics residents on a monthly basis, and the medical residents will present around four articles per year.  

Compensation 

Current Salary by Post-Graduate Year: 2023-2024

• Additional Benefits - In addition to this salary, residents receive a yearly educational stipend of $1,500 and core curriculum textbooks their first and second years (fundamental clinical, physics, and radiobiology texts). The stipend can be used to purchase books and electronic media, as well as pay for resident travel expenses for academic meetings, or yearly ABR dues. Additionally there is a $1000 yearly bonus stipend awarded for conference travel for residents presenting their research and submitting a corresponding manuscript for publication. Abstract and manuscript submission fees will be covered by the department, as well as the cost of poster preparation for accepted work.    
• Vacation - University policy allows for 4 weeks of paid vacation per year, which can be taken on a per day basis, with a maximum of 1 week off clinical service allowed (with up to 2 weeks with additional permission during off-service periods).  
• Life Insurance - Term life insurance is provided for all residents in the amount of double the annual stipend. The policy includes accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Health and Dental Insurance - Single coverage is subsidized by the University of Louisville and family coverage is available at group rates.
• Workers' Compensation - All house staff are covered by workers' compensation for any injuries or illnesses incurred as a result of assigned duties.
• Disability Insurance - Long-term disability insurance is provided for residents free of charge. Residents have the option of converting the coverage from group to private at the end of their training as well as the option of purchasing additional coverage.
• Malpractice Insurance - Coverage is provided for all residents, either by the University of Louisville or by the hospitals to which residents are assigned. This coverage applies only to assigned rotations that are part of residency training.
• Medical Licensure - Commonwealth of Kentucky resident training licensure and renewal fees are paid by the department for the duration of residency in the program.
• Library Privileges - Residents have library privileges at the Kornhauser Library and at all of the affiliated hospitals. Available services include electronic literature, searches, and an inter-library loan service.
• Lab Coats - 2 personalized lab coats with embroidered names are provided to residents at the beginning of their training.
• Recreational Facilities - The HSC Fitness Center is located within the medical campus. Spouses and dependents can join for a nominal charge. A wide array of recreational facilities on the UL Belknap Campus may also be used by residents free of charge.
• Parking - Close proximity covered garage parking is included free of charge to our department residents by the Office of Graduate Medical Education, a $398.00 value.

Program Director – Adrianna Masters, M.D. PhD

Program Coordinator – DeAnna O'Connell

Contact number: (502) 561-2703

Contact email: deanna.oconnell@louisville.edu