As the sole provider of cancer care services to a population of about 1.3 million people in Eastern Ontario there are many opportunities for learning in our program. Our centre is well equipped with nine VMAT capable linear accelerators, two Tomotherapy units, a Cyberknife, an orthovoltage unit, three large bore CT simulators, a MRI simulator as well as a HDR brachytherapy program with a dedicated OR. This equipment is located across two cancer centres at opposite ends of the city. A Gammapod unit for dedicated stereotactic breast treatments is being commissioned. There is a robust interaction between the different disciplines in Radiation Medicine including Oncology, Therapy and Medical Physics. A comprehensive clinical trials program exists in the cancer centre.

Research is a program requirement with a dedicated program subcommittee mandated to help residents link to appropriate research opportunities across the university community including Radiation Medicine. In 2019, the program added a mandatory research block in the third year of resident training. As well residents have 5 additional blocks they can use for research or electives.

Residents are typically active within the educational program associated with the training program. In the academic half day teams of junior and senior residents prepare the treatment planning course presentations together fostering graded learning and mentoring. They are also involved with presentations at the weekly case rounds that are part of the academic half day as well as occasional journal club presentations during Wednesday morning Radiation Medicine Program Rounds. They are numerous multidisciplinary disease-based rounds where residents may attend and participate as well. Each year, the program accepts medical students from year 1 – 4 for electives, with those in year 3 and 4 given a radiation oncology teach by one of our senior residents.

The program allocates funding each year for the purchase of new resources as well as the purchase of 5 licences of e-anatomy for residents to share. Residents receive an allocation of $2500 for the duration of their residency, for courses or conferences of their choice, with PD approval. This fund can be used anytime during the five-year residency and is not limited to a single event (it may be used for more than one course/conference, up to the allocated dollar limit).

The program provides funding to support residents presenting their research projects at conference(s) up to $2000.00 if held outside Canada and $1500.00 if held inside Canada. Priority is based on Seniority of resident as well as the availability of funds.

We are the sole provider of cancer care services to patients in Eastern Ontario including the Nation’s Capital. We also provide cancer care services to the patients to the Qikiqtani region in eastern Nunavut.