The teaching functions of a radiotherapy center

Abstract

A radiotherapy center today fills an important educational function in a modern medical center complex. Teaching responsibilities involve a substantial investment of staff time and physical facilities. A graduate training program covering 3 or more years constitutes a carefully structured educational experience based on a highly sophisticated technology. In order to meet the present and future needs in this area a vigorous effort must be made to increase the recruitment of therapeutic radiologists. Important to the success of any such effort must be a greater involvement in the medical school curriculum. Radiation therapy must be presented to the student as a dynamic medical specialty. This can be done in a variety of ways at different periods in the medical school experience. Programs are needed that will allow interns and residents from other services an opportunity for a clinical experience on the radiation therapy service. However, It would be unwise to place total dependence on this form of recruitment. The present and future needs of the public and the profession can only be met by a carefully planned educational program whose initial efforts begin during the medical school experience. A radiation therapy center has an important and large role in the graduate educational program of a medical center. The full development of this role remains to be realized. There is also potentially a significant teaching contribution that can be made in the medical college. The opportunity is present. The challenge must be met if either or both major branches of radiology are to maintain their academic position. Copyright © 1968 American Cancer Society