Essential Guide to Building a Residency CV for Caribbean IMGs in Radiation Oncology

Crafting a standout CV as a Caribbean IMG targeting a radiation oncology residency is both a strategic and a long‑term process. Radiation oncology is one of the more competitive specialties, and program directors will look closely at your document to decide if you’re worth interviewing. Your residency CV is not just a list of experiences—it’s evidence that you understand the field, can handle complex oncologic care, and can thrive in an academic environment.

Below is a step‑by‑step guide on how to build a CV for residency in radiation oncology as a Caribbean IMG, including residency CV tips tailored to applicants from Caribbean medical schools such as SGU, Ross, AUC, Saba, and others.

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Understanding the Residency CV for Caribbean IMGs

Before you start writing, you need to understand what a medical student CV for radiation oncology is supposed to accomplish—especially as a Caribbean IMG.

What Program Directors Look for in Radiation Oncology

Radiation oncology program directors tend to value:

• Academic strength and board scores (USMLE/COMLEX)
• Serious commitment to oncology (research, electives, shadowing)
• Evidence of technical ability and attention to detail
• Communication skills and empathy (oncology is patient‑heavy and emotionally intense)
• Research productivity (abstracts, publications, QI, presentations)
• Teamwork and leadership (tumor boards, multidisciplinary teamwork)
• Professionalism and reliability

Your CV must show that you are not simply exploring oncology but have built a track record that makes you a low‑risk, high‑yield trainee.

The Caribbean IMG Context

As a Caribbean medical school graduate or student, you may face additional scrutiny:

• Concerns about clinical training environment and variability in clerkship sites
• Lower average USMLE scores and higher applicant volume from some schools
• Limited home residency programs in radiation oncology for letters and networking

However, Caribbean IMGs do match into radiation oncology, especially those coming from well‑established schools with strong track records—think of the SGU residency match results that include competitive specialties each year. To compete effectively, your CV must:

• Show clear, sustained interest in oncology and radiation oncology
• Demonstrate performance at or above the level of U.S. MD/DO students
• Highlight unique strengths—you might offer diversity of experience, bilingual abilities, or prior careers

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Core Structure of a Strong Radiation Oncology Residency CV

To be effective, your CV should follow a clear, conventional structure so that busy reviewers can quickly find what they need.

Essential Sections

A typical radiation oncology residency CV for a Caribbean IMG should include:

1. Contact Information & Header
2. Education
3. Examinations & Certifications
4. Clinical Experience (Clerkships, Sub‑internships, Electives)
5. Research Experience
6. Publications, Abstracts, and Presentations
7. Leadership & Extracurricular Activities
8. Volunteer & Community Service
9. Honors & Awards
10. Professional Memberships
11. Skills & Additional Information

General Formatting Principles

• Length: For medical students, 2–4 pages is common; don’t exceed 5 pages unless you have substantial research.
• Font & Layout: Use a clean, professional font (e.g., 11–12 pt Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman), consistent spacing, and clear headings.
• Chronology: Use reverse chronological order (most recent first) within each section.
• Consistency: Standardize dates, locations, and formatting for all entries.
• Clarity: Use concise bullet points; avoid long paragraphs.

Example: CV Header

Name, MD (Expected)
Caribbean Medical University, Class of 2026
Email | Phone | City, State | ERAS AAMC ID (if available)
LinkedIn (optional, only if well‑curated)

This looks simple, but clarity and professionalism in the header set the tone for the rest of your CV.

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Section-by-Section CV Strategy for Radiation Oncology

1. Education: Clarify Your Training Path

You want to convey credibility and clarity about your educational background as a Caribbean IMG.

Include:

• Medical school name and location
• Degree and expected/completion date
• GPA or class rank (if favorable and available)
• Significant prior degrees (e.g., MSc, MPH, PhD, engineering)

Example Entry:

Doctor of Medicine (MD), Expected May 2026
St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada
Clinical Rotations: Primarily conducted in New York and New Jersey affiliate hospitals

If your school is well known for good match outcomes (e.g., SGU residency match statistics), the name itself carries some weight. You don’t need to oversell, but you should make sure the clinical sites and locations are clear, especially if they are well‑known U.S. teaching hospitals.

2. Examinations & Certifications: Present a Strong Testing Profile

Radiation oncology programs often expect strong scores, because the specialty is academic and physics‑heavy.

Include:

• USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK (and Step 3 if taken), with scores and dates
• COMLEX if applicable
• ECFMG certification status for IMGs
• BLS/ACLS certifications

Example:

USMLE Step 1: Pass, January 2024
USMLE Step 2 CK: 252, August 2024
ECFMG Certification: Anticipated 2026 (pending final documentation)
Certifications: BLS (expires 2026), ACLS (expires 2026)

If you have a borderline score, you don’t need to hide it—residency programs will see it anyway—but you should emphasize strengths elsewhere (research, clinical performance, letters) in your CV.

3. Clinical Experience: Highlight Oncology-Relevant Exposure

For a radiation oncology residency applicant, your clinical sections must prove that you understand oncology patients and complex multimodality care.

Organize by:

• Core Clerkships (for completeness)
• Electives & Sub‑Internships (emphasize oncology and radiation oncology)
• Observerships/Shadowing in Rad Onc (especially valuable for Caribbean IMGs)

Example Rad Onc Rotation Entry:

Radiation Oncology Elective, 4 weeks
Memorial Hospital Cancer Center, New York, NY | July 2025

• Participated in daily contouring sessions with attending physicians, gaining exposure to planning for breast, prostate, and head & neck cancers.
• Observed simulation, treatment planning, and on‑treatment visits; assisted with documentation in the EMR under supervision.
• Attended weekly multidisciplinary tumor boards, presented 2 assigned cases with literature review.
• Developed a patient education handout on skin care during radiotherapy, reviewed by faculty.

If you lack formal radiation oncology rotations, emphasize:

• Hematology/Oncology electives
• Palliative care
• Surgical oncology or gynecologic oncology
• Involvement with tumor boards or cancer clinics

4. Research Experience: The Core Differentiator in Rad Onc

Radiation oncology is one of the most research‑oriented specialties. Your research section can make or break your rad onc match chances.

How to Build Research as a Caribbean IMG

• Seek research positions during preclinical and clinical years (summer breaks, research electives).

• Use remote projects (chart reviews, outcomes research) when physical presence is difficult.

• Network with:

  • Faculty at your U.S. clinical sites
  • Radiation oncologists you shadow or rotate with
  • Alumni from your Caribbean medical school who are now in rad onc

• Consider a dedicated research year if you can’t obtain substantial productivity during medical school.

Organizing the Research Section

Separate Research Experience from Publications/Presentations:

Research Experience Example:

Clinical Research Assistant, Radiation Oncology
University Cancer Institute, Chicago, IL | Feb 2024 – Present
Mentor: Dr. J. Smith

• Conducting retrospective chart review on outcomes of hypofractionated radiotherapy for early‑stage breast cancer in diverse populations.
• Extracting and managing data using REDCap; performing preliminary statistical analysis (logistic regression, Kaplan–Meier) under supervision.
• Drafted abstract submitted to ASTRO Annual Meeting 2025.

Publications & Presentations Example:

Publications

• Doe J, YourLastName A, Smith J. “Patterns of care in hypofractionated radiotherapy for early‑stage breast cancer in an urban safety-net hospital.” Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. (Under review)

Abstracts & Posters

• YourLastName A, Doe J, Smith J. “Impact of treatment delays on local control in prostate cancer: A single-institution review.” Poster presented at ASTRO Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, 2024.

Even if your work is “in progress” or “submitted,” include it clearly labeled as such. Program directors understand that medical students’ projects often extend beyond graduation.

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Showcasing Leadership, Service, and Unique Strengths as a Caribbean IMG

Program directors want colleagues, not just technicians. You must show that you are a mature professional with initiative and empathy.

Leadership & Extracurriculars

This section is especially powerful for a Caribbean IMG if you use it to show:

• Initiative in creating opportunities where they were limited
• Long‑term commitments, not just one‑off activities
• Direct relevance to oncology, education, or patient care

Examples:

Founder & President, Oncology Interest Group
Caribbean Medical University | Jan 2023 – Present

• Established the first student‑run oncology interest group, organizing monthly seminars with visiting oncologists (med onc, rad onc, and surg onc).
• Coordinated a virtual tumor board series with alumni in U.S. residency programs, averaging 40+ attendees per session.
• Implemented a peer mentorship program connecting preclinical and clinical students with interest in oncology.

Peer Tutor, Anatomy and Radiology Correlation

• Led weekly small‑group sessions for 10 first‑year students, emphasizing clinical application of imaging and anatomy relevant to cancer staging.

These entries tell a story of initiative, teamwork, and teaching—valuable traits for a future academic radiation oncologist.

Volunteer & Community Engagement

Radiation oncologists work with vulnerable, often frightened patients. Show that you have experience in emotional labor and long‑term patient relationships.

Example Entries:

Volunteer, Cancer Support Group Facilitator
Community Health Center, Brooklyn, NY | Sep 2024 – Present

• Co‑facilitate a weekly support group for patients undergoing chemo‑ and radiotherapy, providing education about side effects and coping strategies under supervision of a licensed social worker.

Organizer, Cancer Screening Outreach Day

• Organized a community outreach event in Grenada promoting breast and cervical cancer screening; collaborated with local NGOs and medical students.

Such entries counteract stereotypes about IMGs by showing deep community engagement and an understanding of health disparities, both central to modern oncology practice.

Skills & Additional Information

Use this section strategically:

• Languages: Being bilingual or multilingual is a major asset, especially in diverse urban centers.
• Technical Skills: Basic statistics, SPSS/R, REDCap, Excel, basic knowledge of treatment planning systems (if legitimately acquired).
• Teaching experience: Small‑group teaching, OSCE facilitation, online content creation.

Sample Skills Section:

Languages: English (native), Spanish (fluent)
Technical Skills: REDCap, basic SPSS, Microsoft Excel; experience entering contour data in Eclipse treatment planning system (observational/educational use)
Interests: Global oncology, palliative care integration, medical education

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Tailoring Your CV to Overcome Challenges Specific to Caribbean IMGs

Addressing Perceptions of Caribbean Medical School Training

Program directors sometimes worry about variability in:

• Clinical supervision
• Grading standards
• Research infrastructure

You can mitigate this within your CV by:

• Clarifying well‑known U.S. hospitals for your core and elective rotations
• Emphasizing strong clinical evaluations and honors during U.S.-based clerkships
• Showing consistent academic progression (e.g., no long unexplained gaps)

Example Revision:

Instead of:

Internal Medicine Clerkship, 12 weeks, 2025.

Write:

Internal Medicine Clerkship, 12 weeks
XYZ University–Affiliated Hospital, New York, NY | Feb – May 2025

• Earned “Honors” grade; commended for thorough presentations and patient communication in written evaluation (available upon request).

Leveraging Caribbean-Specific Strengths

You may have:

• Exposure to resource‑limited settings, relevant to global oncology and health equity
• Diverse patient populations with advanced disease at presentation
• Experience navigating different health systems (Caribbean vs U.S.)

Include entries such as:

Clinical Elective, Oncology in Resource-Limited Setting
University Hospital, Grenada | Jul – Aug 2024

• Observed care of patients with advanced breast and cervical cancer in a resource‑constrained environment; assisted with patient education on treatment options.
• Completed a short quality improvement project on improving referral pathways for suspected cancer cases.

This can be particularly appealing to programs with a strong interest in global oncology or health disparities.

Connecting Your CV to the Rad Onc Match Narrative

Your rad onc match success depends not only on what’s in your CV, but also on how cohesively it tells your story. When a program director scans it, they should see:

• Clear, early interest in oncology or radiation oncology
• Progressive deepening of that interest (shadowing → elective → research → leadership)
• Evidence that you can handle the academic demands of rad onc (scores, research, presentations)
• Strong professional behavior and teamwork

Think of your CV as the data table that underlies your personal statement. Every major claim you make in the personal statement (“I am committed to oncology,” “I value research,” etc.) should be verifiable in your CV.

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Practical Steps to Build and Improve Your Residency CV Over Time

If you’re early in medical school or still have some runway before applying, you can actively shape your future Caribbean medical school residency CV for radiation oncology.

MS1–MS2 (Preclinical Years)

• Join or start an Oncology Interest Group.
• Seek summer research with an oncologist or radiation oncologist (remote or in‑person).
• Present at local or school‑level research days.
• Develop foundational statistics and scientific writing skills.

Early Clinical Years (Core Rotations)

• During Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Family Medicine, volunteer for oncology cases and ask attendings for referrals to oncologists and radiologists.
• Attend tumor boards whenever possible—these are deeply relevant to rad onc.
• Start building relationships with potential letter writers; your CV and performance will influence their willingness to support you.

Late Clinical Years (Electives & Application Year)

• Prioritize radiation oncology electives at institutions where you might want to match.

• If rad onc electives are limited, arrange away rotations or virtual electives.

• Expand your research productivity: submit abstracts to ASTRO, ASCO, or regional oncology meetings.

• Polish and standardize your CV well before ERAS opens; get feedback from:

  • Caribbean alumni who matched into rad onc or other competitive specialties
  • Residents or faculty in oncology at your rotation sites

Before Submitting ERAS

• Translate your full CV into a concise, ERAS‑friendly entries list.

• Cross‑check:

  • Dates are accurate and consistent
  • No unexplained gaps
  • No exaggerations—you must be able to discuss every line confidently

• Ensure everything on your ERAS “Experiences” and “Publications” matches what appears on your full CV if you are asked to upload it or email it to a program.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How important is research on a radiation oncology residency CV for a Caribbean IMG?

Research is very important for the rad onc match, especially for Caribbean IMGs. While not every matched applicant has multiple first‑author publications, having:

• At least one or two oncology‑related projects, and
• Some form of tangible output (poster, abstract, manuscript, or oral presentation)

significantly strengthens your profile. Your research shows that you can think critically, interpret data, and contribute to the academic mission of a rad onc department. If your academic metrics are less competitive, research productivity can help offset that concern.

2. Does matching into radiation oncology as a Caribbean IMG require a perfect CV?

You do not need a perfect CV, but you need a coherent, competitive, and honest one. Program directors know that not all students will have access to the same opportunities. What they look for is:

• How effectively you used the opportunities available to you
• Whether your experiences align strongly with a genuine interest in oncology
• A clear upward trajectory in performance and engagement

A “perfect” CV with fabricated experiences is far worse than a solid, honest CV with a few gaps that you can explain.

3. Should I include non‑medical jobs or experiences on my residency CV?

Yes, selectively. If you have substantial pre‑med or non‑medical work that demonstrates:

• Leadership
• Responsibility
• Technical skills
• Communication with diverse populations

it can absolutely help. For example, prior careers in engineering, data science, teaching, or social work can be particularly relevant to radiation oncology and oncology care. Place these experiences in a section such as “Prior Professional Experience” and keep them concise but descriptive.

4. How does my Caribbean school’s reputation (e.g., SGU residency match outcomes) influence how I present my CV?

If your school is known for relatively strong match outcomes—like SGU residency match data often show—you benefit from some baseline familiarity. You don’t need to “defend” your school, but you do need to show:

• That you personally took advantage of the school’s clinical and research opportunities
• That you performed well in U.S. clinical environments
• That you’re at or above the level of typical successful grads from your institution

For lesser‑known Caribbean schools, it becomes even more important to:

• Emphasize recognized U.S. clinical sites,
• Highlight objective metrics (board scores, research, presentations), and
• Build strong U.S. letters of recommendation that speak to your performance compared to U.S. students.

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By approaching your residency CV as a strategic, evolving document—rather than a last‑minute formality—you can transform your experience as a Caribbean IMG into a compelling case for a radiation oncology residency spot. Every new rotation, project, or volunteer role is an opportunity to add a line that moves you closer to your goal.