University of Alabama Medical Center Program

The University of Alabama Medical Center's Radiation Oncology Residency Program offers a collaborative, multidisciplinary training environment where residents learn modern radiotherapy techniques. The four-year training program includes intensive hands-on experience with various radiotherapy methods. Graduates are well-prepared to become national leaders in radiation oncology. The program aims to provide superior clinical care, prepare residents for any practice environment, foster learning, and involve residents in advancing the science of oncology at the NCI-designated O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB.

Program Details:

• Program Leadership: Andrew McDonald, MD (Program Director), Samuel Marcrom, MD (Assistant Program Director), John Fiveash, MD (Vice-Chair of Academics), James A. Bonner, MD (Department Chair).
• Program Coordination: Tracey Cotton-Bickham (Program Coordinator).

Clinical Education:

Residents work closely with faculty members specializing in different organ sites, gaining experience in managing a diverse range of common and rare cancers. They participate in multidisciplinary clinics and tumor boards to understand holistic cancer management.

Didactic Curriculum:

The department prioritizes resident education with a robust didactic curriculum covering disease-specific topics, anatomy, radiographic anatomy, surgical principles, and more. Residents engage in monthly journal clubs and annual mock oral examinations.

Resident Research:

Residents are encouraged to participate in research projects tailored to their interests, benefiting from UAB's collaborative research environment. The program supports both clinical and laboratory research, offering dedicated research time in the third and/or fourth year of training.

Physics & Radiation Biology:

Residents receive comprehensive physics and radiation biology instruction to prepare for radiation therapy treatments. The Physics program follows the ASTRO Core Physics Curriculum, and the Radiation Biology program covers key radiation and cancer biology concepts.

SRS & SBRT:

The program provides exposure to state-of-the-art technologies for radiosurgery, including Varian Edge and TrueBeam systems. Residents actively participate in planning and treating SRS/SBRT cases and present at specialized Multidisciplinary Radiosurgery Conferences.

This residency program at University of Alabama Medical Center equips residents with the skills and knowledge to excel in the field of radiation oncology. For application details, interested individuals should contact Tracey Cotton-Bickham, the Program Coordinator.