Radiation Oncology
Chair:
Quynh Le, MD
Department web site:
http://radonc.stanford.edu/
Faculty of Radiation Oncology :
http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/radonc
Courses offered by the Department of Radiation Oncology are listed under the subject code RADO on the Stanford Bulletin's ExploreCourses web site.
Radiation Oncology focuses on the use of radiation for cancer therapy and research. The department faculty teaches courses open to medical students and graduate students. Graduate students in Biophysics and Cancer Biology may perform their thesis research in the department. With respect to its educational mission, the Department of Radiation Oncology trainees also include residents, clinical and research fellows, and postdoctoral fellows.
The major areas of basic research investigation in the department include: DNA repair in mammalian cells after ionizing irradiation; studies of the mechanism of tumor hypoxia in animal tumors; development of new anti-cancer drugs to exploit tumor hypoxia; cytogenetic and molecular methods of predicting the sensitivity of individual tumors to cancer therapy; radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies for cancer detection and treatment; studies of oxygen levels in human tumors using polarographic electrodes; clinical trials of a new hypoxic cytotoxic agent (tirapazamine); studies of the late effects of cancer therapy; and techniques of conformal and intensity modulated radiation therapy.
RESIDENCY TRAINING
The Residency Program in Radiation Oncology is a four-year program beginning at the PGY II level.A minimum of 36 months in the residency training program is spent in clinical training, evaluating both new patients and follow-up patients. New patients are referred from other clinical services in the hospital, the Palo Alto Veteran’s Administration Hospital, the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, and other institutions. Residents participate in the initial evaluation, staging, treatment planning, simulation, and therapy of their patients. They receive comprehensive training in orthovoltage and megavoltage external beam therapy (including whole body irradiation), electron therapy (including total skin treatment), stereotactic radiotherapy, intraoperative irradiation, and radiolabeled monoclonal antibody therapy. Local ancillary rotations are also available.
POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING Opportunities for postdoctoral training in radiation oncology are available. For information, refer to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs home page at http://postdocs.stanford.edu/ or the departmental home page.
