Page 88 - 2014 Printable Abstract Book
P. 88
(S2401) Radiation and cancer biology educator surveys revisited: What has changed? Elaine M. Zeman,
UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
Under the auspices of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Joint Working Group
on Radiobiology Teaching, two large surveys of radiation and cancer biology educators were
commissioned in 2001 and 2007; NIH workshops addressing teaching and research priorities in the
radiation sciences followed (in 2003 and 2014). All documented major declines over time in the
percentage of educators whose graduate training was in a radiation science. At present, only about a third
of educators (most 55+ years old) self-identify as radiation biologists, although a growing number of
radiation oncology physician-scientists - who are hopefully well-versed in radiation biology - have
assumed teaching roles. Survey findings along with discussion at the workshops prompted a number of
recommendations for coping with the realities of an educator shortage. Among the recommendations
were the need for additional graduate training programs in the radiation sciences, development of
resources to "teach the teachers" who are not radiobiologists by training, regional consolidation of
radiation oncology resident biology courses that take advantage of the remaining expert educators, and
more detailed curricular guidelines from national accreditation, education and board certification
organizations. The purpose of this presentation is to review the current status of these, and newer,
initiatives for helping sustain the educator workforce in radiation and cancer biology.
(S2402) Education and training needs in the radiation sciences. Kathryn D. Held, Massachusetts General
Hospital, Boston, MA
In light of the exciting ongoing advances in treating patients with radiation therapy, intriguing findings of
some unexpected biological effects of charged particles in space radiation biology studies, the
epidemiology studies raising concerns about the effects of low dose radiation exposure in medical settings
and potentially in accidents and incidents, and the needs to develop effective countermeasures against
potential radiation exposures, there is a pressing need for a cadre of individuals who are knowledgeable
both broadly and in depth in the radiation sciences. There are many facets to the education and training
needed to develop and sustain such a broadly radiation-knowledgeable community. This presentation
will focus on two areas. First will be a discussion of the curriculum for education of radiation oncologists
in radiation biology and the formal testing that is a critical component of that education and career
development. Second will be an overview of the several efforts undertaken recently to raise awareness
of and identify possible ways to ameliorate the increasing shortage of trained radiation professionals,
including critical educators.
(S2403) Building bridges to translation: Training our radiation biologists and physician scientists in areas
that seem to have fallen between the cracks! Bhadrasain Vikram, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
MD
The last major advances in Radiation Oncology occurred in the 1990s when the addition of certain drugs
(such as cisplatin and temozolomide) to radiation therapy was proven to prolong the survival of some
kinds of cancer patients. Our understanding of why those drugs were successful while many others have
proved unsuccessful remains poor, unfortunately, which has hampered industry investment in chemical
86 | P a g e
UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
Under the auspices of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Joint Working Group
on Radiobiology Teaching, two large surveys of radiation and cancer biology educators were
commissioned in 2001 and 2007; NIH workshops addressing teaching and research priorities in the
radiation sciences followed (in 2003 and 2014). All documented major declines over time in the
percentage of educators whose graduate training was in a radiation science. At present, only about a third
of educators (most 55+ years old) self-identify as radiation biologists, although a growing number of
radiation oncology physician-scientists - who are hopefully well-versed in radiation biology - have
assumed teaching roles. Survey findings along with discussion at the workshops prompted a number of
recommendations for coping with the realities of an educator shortage. Among the recommendations
were the need for additional graduate training programs in the radiation sciences, development of
resources to "teach the teachers" who are not radiobiologists by training, regional consolidation of
radiation oncology resident biology courses that take advantage of the remaining expert educators, and
more detailed curricular guidelines from national accreditation, education and board certification
organizations. The purpose of this presentation is to review the current status of these, and newer,
initiatives for helping sustain the educator workforce in radiation and cancer biology.
(S2402) Education and training needs in the radiation sciences. Kathryn D. Held, Massachusetts General
Hospital, Boston, MA
In light of the exciting ongoing advances in treating patients with radiation therapy, intriguing findings of
some unexpected biological effects of charged particles in space radiation biology studies, the
epidemiology studies raising concerns about the effects of low dose radiation exposure in medical settings
and potentially in accidents and incidents, and the needs to develop effective countermeasures against
potential radiation exposures, there is a pressing need for a cadre of individuals who are knowledgeable
both broadly and in depth in the radiation sciences. There are many facets to the education and training
needed to develop and sustain such a broadly radiation-knowledgeable community. This presentation
will focus on two areas. First will be a discussion of the curriculum for education of radiation oncologists
in radiation biology and the formal testing that is a critical component of that education and career
development. Second will be an overview of the several efforts undertaken recently to raise awareness
of and identify possible ways to ameliorate the increasing shortage of trained radiation professionals,
including critical educators.
(S2403) Building bridges to translation: Training our radiation biologists and physician scientists in areas
that seem to have fallen between the cracks! Bhadrasain Vikram, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,
MD
The last major advances in Radiation Oncology occurred in the 1990s when the addition of certain drugs
(such as cisplatin and temozolomide) to radiation therapy was proven to prolong the survival of some
kinds of cancer patients. Our understanding of why those drugs were successful while many others have
proved unsuccessful remains poor, unfortunately, which has hampered industry investment in chemical
86 | P a g e
