ARROgram - February 2024 ARRO Announcements
February 9, 2024
Call for volunteers: Shaping the future of radiation oncology education!
Building on the 2023 study by Jeans et al. published in IJROBP, we’re embarking on the next phase! We’re calling for dedicated volunteers to define and describe Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for U.S. radiation oncology. The study, led by ROECSG, employed a deliberative process with diverse stakeholders to define EPAs and curricular content domains in radiation oncology. Now, we need your help to delve deeper into those critical competencies and develop a workbook to serve as a blueprint for stakeholders such as residency programs and licensing bodies.
Contact Mustafa Basree to join our team and/or if you have any questions. Depending on extent of contribution, writers will be listed in the EPA/curriculum book published to ROECSG’s website.
Calling all residents who have taken their Physics ABR board exam: We need your help!
Varian recently made a comprehensive study guide for the Physics ABR board exam, which will be available for all residents to access and use to study for the exam. Before they can make the study guide public, they asked for our help to vet the content. If you have taken the exam and would be willing to vet one to two chapters (takes about 30 minutes total), we would really appreciate it! Our goal is to vet the study guide in time for residents to be able to use the guide for this year’s exam. Please email Kelsey Corrigan if interested!
Oral Boards Study Groups
Have you been wanting to study for oral boards in a group setting or practice talking through oral boards cases? The ARRO Education Committee will be helping to form study groups for residents from different institutions who are interested in oral boards studying. If interested, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/wJoDLRkAkPdTMskN9. We will also be forming study groups among new faculty who are studying for the upcoming exam in May, so please share with your graduated co-residents!
ASTRO Residents/Fellows in Radiation Oncology Seed Grants
The ASTRO Seed Grants provide up to $25,000 over one year and are designed to foster the research careers of residents and fellows interested in radiation oncology-related basic, translational and/or clinical research. Applicants must be enrolled in a U.S. residency or fellowship at the time of application. For more information, individuals can download the program announcement. All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on February 23. To apply, visit ASTRO’s ProposalCentral portal.
Encourage your students to apply! ASTRO Medical Student Fellowship Awards
ASTRO is accepting applications for the 2024 Medical Student Fellowship Award (MSF) through February 15. Awardees receive a stipend package of $6,000 to support eight to ten weeks in the summer in collaborative research environments exploring clinical, basic and translational radiation oncology research questions. These medical students gain expert advice from dedicated mentors, build professional networks with peers and radiation oncology professionals, and acquire skills that will help them advance in their careers. Medical students in all years are encouraged to apply, although preference will be given to first- and second-year students. A stipend of $2,000 will be provided to mentors whose students are selected for the program. Learn more about award eligibility and application information and encourage your medical students to apply by Thursday, February 15!
ASTRO-LUNGevity Residents/Fellows in Radiation Oncology Seed Grant
This is a joint effort with the LUNGevity Foundation (LUNGevity) to foster the career advancement of residents or fellows conducting radiation oncology related research for the benefit of patients with lung cancer. For more information about this ASTRO-LUNGevity collaboration and to apply, visit ProposalCentral. The application deadline is February 23, 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
ASTRO Coding and Coverage Seminar
The ASTRO Coding and Coverage Seminar, designed to provide information to ASTRO members (radiation oncologists, radiation physicists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists), coding professionals and practice administrators on the topic of CPT codes and coverage within radiation oncology, is available from January 31 through March 15, 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
The code set within radiation oncology is very complex and reflects ongoing changes due to changes in health care policies, private and public payer coverage determinations, and national correct coding edits and modalities within the practice of radiation oncology. Correct coding reflects collaboration between the radiation oncology clinical team, but also between professional coders and practice administrators. Correct coding has widespread impacts on code development and valuation, which could potentially have long-term effects on coverage and reimbursements for all members in the radiation oncology community. The ASTRO Coding and Coverage Seminar will address these topics, strengthening the knowledge and practice of clinical coding within the specialty of radiation oncology.
This seminar is hosted in the ASTRO Academy. Discounted resident and student rates are available. *Residents and Students can join ASTRO for free to receive the discounted rates.
ROECSG Spring Symposium Abstract Submission
Abstracts for the 2024 ROECSG Spring Symposium are due by February 26, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. Submissions on any topic related to radiation oncology education are encouraged. The Symposium will take place in Chicago on Friday, May 31, and there is also a virtual option! Submit abstracts here: https://roecsg.org/symposium-abstract-submission/.
ASTRO 2024: The Call for Abstracts is open
The Call for Abstracts has opened for ASTRO 2024, held in Washington, DC, from September 29 – October 2! This is a great opportunity to share important findings with colleagues and interact with leaders in the field. Accepted abstracts represent all aspects of oncology, radiation oncology, and radiation therapy for non-oncologic conditions. The scientific program will feature cutting-edge research in all major disease sites, as well as special physics and biology oral abstract sessions. Accepted abstracts will be published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics ASTRO Annual Meeting Proceedings. Review the abstract submission guidelines thoroughly and complete your submission by March 12.
ASTRO 2024 Annual Refresher Course: Save the date and register today
You’re invited to save the date and join us virtually from April 17-19 for the 2024 ASTRO Annual Refresher Course! We’ll provide a comprehensive review of the latest treatment methods and core competencies for the major disease sites with a look at the emerging trends and technologies impacting daily practice. The virtual format combines live sessions with live Q&A. Registration includes three eContouring sessions, and the Refresher onDemand. New this year, Pediatrics will be covered in a special in-depth onDemand offering. Here’s a preview of the course schedule. The Annual Refresher Course is a great review for anyone preparing to take their boards. Register today!
Connect with ASTRO Leadership on the ROhub Student Community
Looking for an easy and direct way to connect with ASTRO leadership with questions and issues important to you? Join the conversation with ARRO leadership and ASTRO Board members, including Howard Sandler, MD, MS, FASTRO; Jeff Michalski, MD, MBA, FASTRO; and Geraldine Jacobson, MD, MPH, MBA, FASTRO. Introduce yourself to the community on the Introduce Yourself thread and feel free to pose any questions you have about the field of radiation oncology. All student, graduate student and PGY-1 members have already been subscribed to daily digests and added to the community. To view the community, navigate to ROhub and select My Communities or visit the community directly.
You can also enroll in Mentor Match, hosted on ROhub, today in a few easy steps.