Goals and Learning Objectives

Overall Goals

Goals of PROF are to provide advanced subspecialty training in stereotactic radiation therapy for both intracranial and extra-cranial stereotactic irradiation and to gain knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of different radiation treatment techniques, including external beam, 3-D conformal, IMRT, and stereotactic radiotherapy and radiosurgery.

Medical Knowledge Objectives

• Know and thoroughly understand pertinent scientific literature related to adaptive and precision/personalized radiation therapy
• Recognize indications for personalized, adaptive radiotherapy and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy
• Optimize the contouring of target and avoidance structures for adaptive and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy
• Develop facility with planning techniques with Ethos (CBCT-based), Unity (MRI-based), and RefleXion (PET/CT-based) adaptive radiotherapy
• Enhance skills at delivering online adaptive radiotherapy
• Pursue novel research opportunities on precision radiation oncology

Patient Care Objectives

• Refine ability to undertake all aspects of patient care related to patients receiving adaptive and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, including initial assessment, formulation, and implementation of treatment plans, discussion with family members and referring physicians, treatment prescription, and interpretation with other treatment modalities.
• Improve maturity of written consultations, with emphasis on delineation of plan of management and, when appropriate, reference to pertinent literature to substantiate recommendations.
• Gain proficiency in managing side effects during and after therapy and in counseling patients and their families on issues related to tumors, adaptive and stereotactic treatment, and any possible complications from such treatments.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

• Ability to analyze practice experience and perform practice-based improvement activities (i.e. suggestions for improving the service and rotation).

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Fully sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound relationship with patients.
• Use effective listening, non-verbal, explanatory, questioning, and writing skills to elicit and provide information to and about patients.
• Work effectively with other health care providers as a member and leader of the health care team.

Professionalism

• Responsiveness to societal needs that supersedes self-interest.
• Commitment to excellence and ongoing professional development.

Systems-based Practice

• Know how his/her health care practices affect health care providers and the larger society, and how elements of the system affect his/her own practice.
• Partner with health care managers and providers to assess, coordinate, and improve health care, and know how these activities affect system performance.