ASTRO/AAPM Offer Grants for Radiation Oncology Physics Residency Training Programs
The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) Education and Development Fund, together with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), has approved funds to facilitate the development of radiation oncology physics residencies across the United States and Canada.
The roles and responsibilities of the medical radiation physicist are diverse, demanding, and pivotal for the safe and effective delivery of radiation treatments to cancer patients. Radiation oncology physicists are employed in hospitals, universities, and clinics. Career opportunities are excellent however; there is an acute shortage of qualified professionals.
The initiation and development of radiation physics residency programs in the United States would lead to more graduates and more qualified professionals entering the workforce. However, the colleges and universities that could potentially house medical radiation physics residency programs are under severe financial stress due to cuts in state and federal funding. Because clinical radiation oncology physics residency programs are expensive to create and operate, these schools are not likely to open a program unless they receive financial support.
Purpose
To promote the development of radiation physics residency programs in the United States leading to more graduates and more qualified professionals entering the workforce. The purpose of the Grants is to provide assistance to newly established programs working towards accreditation.
Award Amounts
Up to $72,000.00 in total funding will be awarded each year. Individual program grants will not exceed $12,000.00 each.
Eligibility Requirements
Applications will be accepted from radiation oncology physics residency programs that meet the criteria set forth by AAPM Report #90, “Essentials and Guidelines for Radiation Oncology Physics Residency Training Programs.”
Application Receipt Deadline June 16, 2008.
Click here for more information and to download the application packet.
If you have questions you may contact:
Anil Vaish 703-839-7396 (ASTRO) or Jacqueline Ogburn (AAPM) 301-209-3394.