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CLINICAL ROTATIONS

Clinical rotations are arranged on a 3-month block schedule. Each rotation pairs the resident with one (rarely two) attending who has a team including a designated nurse and an administrative assistant. Each attending has a primary disease-site concentration, but may see a small number of patients with other types of cancer as well. Residents focus their reading and clinical learning, as well as their end of rotation oral exam, on the designated disease-site.

Resident activities include attending Tumor Boards, reviewing medical records and ensuring the proper work-up has been completed, deciding on the plan for treatment with the patient, and prescribing radiation.

Starting the first day of residency, the resident is involved in treatment planning, from ensuring proper simulation, to contouring, and reviewing radiation plans. Residents work with the attending to provide continuity of care for their patients throughout treatment and follow-up.




 
Breast Cancer Rotation

Residents see patients with early stage tumors post-lumpectomy, as well as post-mastectomy and patients that have completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Central Nervous System (CNS) Tumors Rotation

Residents are exposed to a wide variety of both malignant and benign tumors of the brain and spine. There is an emphasis on an understanding of imaging techniques, and their interpretation and use in planning.

Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer Rotation

UCSD treats a substantial number of GI patients with esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, liver, and colorectal and anal cancers using 3D-CRT, IMRT, and SBRT.

Genitourinary (GU) Cancer Rotation

Our GU service includes primarily prostate (definitive and post-op), bladder, and testicular cancers, as well as cases of penile and urethral cancers.

Gynecologic (GYN) Cancer Rotation

Residents are involved with the treatment of all GYN cancers including cervical and endometrial cancers, but also vulvar and vaginal cancer.

Head & Neck Cancer Rotation

Our Head and Neck service includes a variety of patients with tumors of the oropharynx, nasopharynx, larynx, hypopharynx, salivary gland, and thyroid.

Hematologic Cancer Rotation

Our Hematology service is one of the largest lymphoma programs in the country, due in large part to collaborations with medical oncology.

International Rotation

All residents are supported for a one-month international elective.

Lung Cancer Rotation

Our lung cancer service includes primarily primary lung cancer (both NSCLC and SCLC), as well as thymoma and mesothelioma.

Palliative Care Rotation

Residents are involved in the palliative treatment of patients with uncontrolled primary and/or metastatic disease.

Pediatric Cancer/Proton Therapy Rotation

Our pediatrics rotation is combined with proton therapy, given that the majority of our pediatrics patients now have access to protons for treatment.

Satellite Rotation

Three San Diego County satellite clinics (Encinitas, 4S Ranch, South Bay) are approved for residents to spend one block in their last year.

Skin Cancer Rotation

In San Diego there is a particularly high volume of skin cancer, allowing one of our research attendings, Dr. Andrew Sharabi, to dedicate his primary clinical focus to this disease.





End of Rotation Exams

Each rotation ends with a form “boards style” oral examination, performed by the Chair, Program Director and Service Chief. The exam is not tailored to the year of the resident but instead exposes all residents to an actual exam scored on the traditional 5-point scale and delivered without prompts or feedback, allowing residents to gauge their progress throughout the residency.

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