Questions About Radiation Oncology

[Llenroc]

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I'm a fairly average medical student. 218 on Step 1. I have about average evaluations from my clerkships. I have to remediate one month of a clerkship as well.

What are my chances for Radiation Oncology?

Also, what are the hours like in Radiation Oncology for those who are in practice. Is it pretty much business hours, 8-5?

Thanks.

 

[Ol Jock 99]

nm

 

[Gfunk6]

You've hurt your chances significantly but you can still possibly get a spot. There are literally a dozen threads on the topic if you search.

Hours are generally 9-5 no weekends, no overnight call. There are a few RadOnc emergencies (e.g. cord compression) for which you may get called in for but these are rare, particularly in a non academic setting.

 

[radonc]

see post below

 

[radonc]

i think radonc hours are more than 9-5.

during residency, you work from 730-6 (avg of 5 programs that i know residents at). and then dont forget to add the studying time in...which avgs about 2 hours/night.

and even after residency, you put in 50 hours/week, depending on your situation. im sure there are some cush private jobs where you work 30-40 hrs/week while there are some busier jobs where you work 60+ hrs/week. academics tend to be closer to 50hrs/week, and this includes research activities, teaching, etc.

 

[clintpark]

i think radonc hours are more than 9-5.

during residency, you work from 730-6 (avg of 5 programs that i know residents at). and then dont forget to add the studying time in...which avgs about 2 hours/night.

and even after residency, you put in 50 hours/week, depending on your situation. im sure there are some cush private jobs where you work 30-40 hrs/week while there are some busier jobs where you work 60+ hrs/week. academics tend to be closer to 50hrs/week, and this includes research activities, teaching, etc.

7:30 to 6 sounds about right. Don't go into rad onc thinking your residency will be a picnic. It is true that our schedule looks good because we don't stay at the hospital taking calls, but we are expected to read and know more, A LOT more.

 

[stephew]

its a long haul studying; even after graduation from residency.

 

[Llenroc]

How much treating of medical issues is there in radiation oncology? Do radiation oncologists round on their own patients and manage their issues, or are they mostly called in to be consultants for radiation therapy?

 

[stephew]

you manage your patients medically yes. Remember youre an MD treating patients. you need to know how. Youre not however the PCP. In the US there is no in-service. There is a move now to re-evcal radonc and consider what it means to be primary oncologists and what we need to do to continue to be seen as such. and its needed.