Roxane Handal, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Nicholas J DeNunzio BS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Rebecca Levin-Epstein BA, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Pauline Bishop MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ariel E. Hirsch MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Purpose: Oncology and radiation oncology education is limited in most medical school curricula. We developed the Oncology Education Initiative (OEI) in 2007, which incorporates structured radiation oncology didactics during the core radiology clerkship. Since its inception, the OEI has expanded to include third-year students and we recently implemented a dedicated oncology block in the preclinical second-year. Here we compare attitudes toward oncology topics between third-year students, who were exposed to more extensive oncology and radiation oncology education, and fourth-year students, whose only oncology education exposure was the radiation oncology didactic session during their fourth year.Methods and Materials: An institutional-based cohort of 140 third and fourth-year students who attended the radiation oncology didactic were given a questionnaire to assess their perceptions of preclinical cancer education, the didactic lecture given during the radiology clerkship, and oncology education in general at our Institution.Results: Among the students who participated in the radiation oncology didactic, 99% felt that oncology is an important component of medical school education, while 80% felt that radiation oncology is an important component of medical school education. An overwhelming 93% of students felt that understanding radiation oncology would help them better understand other medical disciplines. 60% reported being satisfied with the amount of oncology education during preclinical years, while only 23% of the third-year class and 34% of the fourth-year class felt that they received adequate clinical exposure to cancer patients. 73% of students felt that the addition of the dedicated oncology block in the second year effectively contributed to their overall medical education. Overall, 71% of the third-years reported that they were excited to be a part of the multi-year oncology curriculum.Conclusions: The OEI provides a vertically integrated approach to oncology and radiation oncology education and enhances medical students' understanding of cancer management. As a new program, we are very pleased with the enthusiasm of the students. We concur that formally introducing cancer topics earlier in the undergraduate medical curriculum is not only beneficial but also fosters more interest in the relatively small field of radiation oncology. The oncology block is still a work in progress as this was the first class to be a part of a completely new and still fluid curriculum. We expect even more positive feedback from the classes of 2012 and 2013. As we continue to expand the OEI, we foresee it as a potential model to fill the gap currently present in cancer education at the undergraduate medical level.

Handal, R, DeNunzio, N, Levin-Epstein, R, Bishop, P, Hirsch, A, The Evolution of an Innovative Approach to Multidisciplinary Cancer Care in Medical School: Insight on the Impact of Integrative Oncology and Radiation Oncology Education.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11032442.html