Joint Med Onc / Rad Onc

[RadOncRules]

I was wondering whether there are programs in place that allow this? And if not, would it be possible to create a dual program without having to go through both programs seperately?

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[Gfunk6]

No and no.

This has been discussed extensively before, please see:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=190963
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=385227

 

[medgator]

You could consider becoming a "clinical" oncologist in the UK, administering both chemo and radiation.

 

[RadOncRules]

There does appear to be an interest in hybrid programs.

International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics
Volume 76, Issue 3, 1 March 2010, Pages 643-648

American Society for Radiation Oncology Intersociety Summit Summary:

"The ABR has been discussing the adequacy of training related to general medicine, such as oncology/chemotherapy and inpatient care. In addition, the adequacy of training related to the expanded role of diagnostic imaging in radiation oncology is being discussed. Several hybrid programs are under consideration, including a nuclear medicine/radiation oncology program at the University of Pennsylvania that has been approved and joint radiology/radiation oncology and medical oncology/radiation oncology programs that are being evaluated. "

 

[deleted4401]

I can't think of too many rational faculty/private practice radiation oncologists thinking this is a good idea. Like Med/Peds or Psych/Child Psych/Neuro, you end up undertrained in each. The whole point of being a subspecialist is ... well ... being a subspecialist. This is a student/junior-resident level discussion. Haffty isn't thinking of delivering the TCH, nor is Eiffel considering performing any groin dissections.

There is a reason that in modern Western medicine that the same guy doing the anesthesia doesn't take out the gallbladder or the guy who checks the PSA doing the biopsy and prostatectomy. People get good at stuff by doing it a lot, not by doing a little bit of everything.

-S

 

[clintpark]

American Society for Radiation Oncology Intersociety Summit Summary:

"The ABR has been discussing the adequacy of training related to general medicine, such as oncology/chemotherapy and inpatient care. In addition, the adequacy of training related to the expanded role of diagnostic imaging in radiation oncology is being discussed. Several hybrid programs are under consideration, including a nuclear medicine/radiation oncology program at the University of Pennsylvania that has been approved and joint radiology/radiation oncology and medical oncology/radiation oncology programs that are being evaluated. "

I did some radiology electives as a resident, but I wish there was more formal diagnostic imaging training, considering how much of our work is related to delineating tumor on CT/MRI/PET. Even diagnostic radiologists don't have to be as precise as we do. (I am not saying their work is easier than ours, of couse; they do have to deal with a much wider differential)