- Joined
- Jan 6, 2004
- Messages
- 20
- Reaction score
- 0
Which RO program in Pennsylvania is considered the best?
Pennsylvania
- Thread starter ijokergirl
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2001
- Messages
- 2,362
- Reaction score
- 8
prob uPenn.ijokergirl said:
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2004
- Messages
- 4,660
- Reaction score
- 5,075
Well, according to the ARRO website, here are all the RadOnc residencies in PA.
DREXEL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINEL
(formerly Hahnemann University Hospital)
Number of Residents: 9
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Number of Residents: 8
FOX CHASE CANCER CENTER
Number of Residents: 7
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA AFFILIATED HOSPITALS
Institution: Number of Residents: 15
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH MEDICAL CENTER
Number of Residents: 4
ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL
Number of Residents: 5
I would imagine that in terms of academic strength (e.g. research) UPenn would probably come out on top with Fox Chase and Thomas Jefferson not terribly far behind.
DREXEL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINEL
(formerly Hahnemann University Hospital)
Number of Residents: 9
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Number of Residents: 8
FOX CHASE CANCER CENTER
Number of Residents: 7
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA AFFILIATED HOSPITALS
Institution: Number of Residents: 15
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH MEDICAL CENTER
Number of Residents: 4
ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL
Number of Residents: 5
I would imagine that in terms of academic strength (e.g. research) UPenn would probably come out on top with Fox Chase and Thomas Jefferson not terribly far behind.
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2001
- Messages
- 2,362
- Reaction score
- 8
he, id love to see how y'all rank these things once youre in the field. I always get a kick out of the living examples of "a little learning being a dangerous thing". check out the "rankings" thread for more information on this. BTW as CNS specialist, let me say that gamma knife is one overrated puppy. It was good when it was invented decades and decades ago. But now there is so much better but people love that name. Tomotherapy and linac based RS are far better tools.
From my experience last year on the interview trail (and from talking with my advisor), I'd say that Penn and Jefferson are probably the top 2 programs in the state (both programs have BIG names), maybe Fox Chase 3rd. I'm not sure any of these 3 are "knock out" programs, though -- and each has shortcomings. If you look at the "rankings" thread, many (but certainly not all) listed Penn and Jefferson as top 10 programs.
Whether Penn or Jefferson is "better" may be up to your personal fit. Both are strong academically, and -- no doubt -- residents at both programs have ample opportunities to publish (and to publish with big name attendings). Why not apply to both, and see how you like the programs after interview?
Whether Penn or Jefferson is "better" may be up to your personal fit. Both are strong academically, and -- no doubt -- residents at both programs have ample opportunities to publish (and to publish with big name attendings). Why not apply to both, and see how you like the programs after interview?
im not very familiar with tomotherapy, but from what i have read of the literature, survival for patients with brain metastases (depending on the histology, # of lesions, pre-rx KPS, etc) treated with GKSRS and linac based RS are fairly similar. moreover, since GKSRS is more prevalent in the united states than tomotherapy is, it is readily available to the general public, who may not have the opportunity to be treated at places such as hopkins or the brigham with cutting edge technology. ive trained/studied/rotated at institutions where GKSRS was the preferred treatment over linac based RS, with bigger names in the field (suh, shaw, steiner).
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2001
- Messages
- 2,362
- Reaction score
- 8
its not a survival benefit you get with tomo (though perhaps, with the dose rate issue). its the versitility and sparing of normal tissue. Also tomo does faster dose-rate than IMRT (thus true dose escalation) and you verfiy to a CT, not to xray port films. That's the coolness; its how IMRT should be truely done.
As for GK, the prevelance and big names dont make a better tool; its more prevelant because it used to be superior with regard to localization; not nowadays. With regard to names, its been around longer for stereotactic treatment so of course by definition, the first publications of SRS were with gamma knife...and those publications made the authors legitimately big names.
The point is this: its takes very little time to learn how to do linac based if you've done GK and vice versa. Ive trained at an institution with both in fact. and if I were a chair, I think i'd get linac as I could do more than brain with it. And I could hypo fractionate with FSR. Gamma knife is a nice platform for what it does but its a limited platform; and in fact for irregular or larger lesions, its inferior to brainlab (which has better software might I add).
As for GK, the prevelance and big names dont make a better tool; its more prevelant because it used to be superior with regard to localization; not nowadays. With regard to names, its been around longer for stereotactic treatment so of course by definition, the first publications of SRS were with gamma knife...and those publications made the authors legitimately big names.
The point is this: its takes very little time to learn how to do linac based if you've done GK and vice versa. Ive trained at an institution with both in fact. and if I were a chair, I think i'd get linac as I could do more than brain with it. And I could hypo fractionate with FSR. Gamma knife is a nice platform for what it does but its a limited platform; and in fact for irregular or larger lesions, its inferior to brainlab (which has better software might I add).