Case Western Reserve University
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Radiation Oncology Residency
Watch our Radiation Oncology Residency Video to learn more about our comprehensive clinical, research, and leadership training.
What makes us different?
There are 94 radiation oncology residency programs currently in the USA and they are not all created equal. We are proud to offer one of the most comprehensive training environments in the world, including:
Brachytherapy- Only 85% of programs provide onsite prostate or GYN brachytherapy
Proton beam- Only ~20% of programs have onsite proton beam technology.
MRI-guided linear accelerator- Less than 20% of programs have MR-LINAC technology
Radiosurgery- Less than 35% of programs offer onsite training in both Gamma Knife and LINAC-based SRS
Adaptive radiotherapy- <30% of programs have real-time adaptive technology
Everything under one roof- Beyond access to the most advanced technology, >30% of programs send their residents to other programs simply to complete the minimum requirements put forth by the ACGME
NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center- Only 60% of programs are part of an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center
UH Seidman Cancer Center provides EVERYTHING right here for our residents. From a robust pediatrics rotation made possible through being connected to a leading children’s hospital (Rainbow Babies), to Proton Beam, Radiosurgery, MRI-LINAC, and diverse and high volume use of brachytherapy. Furthermore, we are associated with the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, which is recognized for its scientific leadership, resources, and the depth and breadth in research in basic, clinical, prevention, cancer control, and population science, as well as substantial transdisciplinary research that bridges these scientific areas. This creates an exceptional environment for training.
The overall national attending to resident ratio is 1.74 to 1. We feel this is not enough and results in service to education being too high. Here at UH Seidman our ratio is 2.7 to 1 if including only faculty at UH Seidman. <10% of programs have as favorable of attending to resident ratios, and all faculty routinely go uncovered to ensure a proper education to service balance.
I believe our new leadership training curriculum, step-by-step guides to conduct and disseminate research, new internationally led journal clubs, and new approaches to medical education make our program rise above the rest.
Source: Here
Meet the Residency Program Leadership
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Dejalai Duke
Residency Program Coordinator
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Lauren Henke, MD, MSCI
Residency Program Director
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Angela Jia, MD/PhD
Associate Residency Program Director
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Nick Zaorsky, MD, MS
Vice Chair of Medical Education
Our Current Residents
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Dr. Joan Lee
PGY-2
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Dr. Rohan Patel
PGY-3
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Dr. Courtney Pisano
PGY-3
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Dr. Atefeh Rezaei
PGY-4
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Dr. Eric Chen
PGY-5
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Dr. Atallah Baydoun
PGY-5
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Dr. Saad Sheikh
PGY-5
Education is not an accident. It is a commitment.
“The goal of residency training is not to solely obtain an excellent well-rounded education. It is to gain the skills and ability to obtain the job each of our graduates wants so they can pursue their dreams.”
— Dan Spratt, MD (Chair of Radiation Oncology)
“We embrace our residents’ individuality, unique strengths, and strive to understand their goals. Preparing our residents goes far beyond route knowledge and excelling at clinical radiation oncology. It extends to providing our trainees the skills to succeed in their career - from a strong foundation in understanding biomedical research and clinical trial design and interpretation, to leadership and networking skills, to operational and financial expertise.”
— Lauren Henke, MD, MSCI (Program Director)
“I believe the people make the place and not the other way around. Not only are there only a few programs in the country that allow residents to have everything they need in their home program to become experts across all radiotherapy modalities, our program is devoted from top to bottom to create a world-class environment for resident education.”
— Nicholas Zaorsky, MD, MS (Vice Chair of Medical Education)
“I can guarantee that our team will always invest more into each and every resident than we will ever expect in return. We view residency training as a core principle of our program, and it is an expectation across the faculty and staff to ensure our residents will be prepared to take care of our loved ones.”
— Angela Jia, MD/PhD (Associate Program Director)
Learn more
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Our program started in 2000. In 2021 the program underwent a near total overhaul with new leadership, a new full-time residency coordinator was hired, CME funds for residents were expanded, and an entirely new didactic curriculum was developed and implemented.
Faculty create and lead the didactics, and it is not simply a program where residents are left to teach themselves.
We have monthly journal clubs, which is not your ordinary journal club. It includes the international experts who are the PI of practice changing trials we discuss!
We also increased external grand round and educational speakers from 2-3x per year to now ~30 in 2022 from leaders in our field.
Furthermore, we have added in a comprehensive series on leadership training, career counseling, finance and billing training, and research and biostatistics training.
Although our radiation oncology treatment volume is in the top 15% of cancer centers in the USA, and have one of the most robust and technologically comprehensive radiotherapy residency training programs, we continue to keep our program at 7 total spots and have not expanded our program. This is a commitment to our field nationwide, and also requires all faculty to know how to function fully with or without a resident in clinic given we have nearly 3 providers to every 1 resident. Thus, our attendings are not reliant on residents merely for service.
In 2021 we added the opportunity for residents to pursue the Holman Pathway for extra dedicated research time (>18 months), and offer up to 12 months protected research time for those interested.
We support our residents no matter what career path they choose to take. Whether that be to go into a more traditional academic path, community or private practice, industry or government, or international practice, we want to help you achieve your dreams.
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Residents have the ability to collaborate with some of the most prolific basic, translational, clinical, and health services researchers in the country. There are diverse resident projects that span artificial intelligence and deep learning, DEI, technical and physics related, imaging and biomarker research, basic wet lab immunology and cancer biology, to developing and conducting early phase clinical trials.
We have begun offering the Holman Pathway for well suited and qualified individuals, and up to 12 months of protected time for all residents interested in conducting research.
Residents are supported with free biostatistical support during all 4 years of training from two PhD biostatisticians, and are encouraged to submit for travel awards and grants if interested.
Our residents have delivered numerous oral/podium presentations nationally and internationally, and are provided annual CME stipends to support both their education and research efforts.
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Here are the official details of our program:
Sponsoring Institution: UH Cleveland Medical Center
Program Name: Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Radiation Oncology Residency Program
Accreditation: ACGME
Program Number: 4303811077
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Residents and Fellows are paid according to their level of training. The stipends, as of July 1, 2022:
PGY I: $63,900
PGY II: $66,400
PGY III: $69,000
PGY IV: $71,400
PGY V: $73,800
Read more in the UH Resident Manual:
Learn more about UH Benefits:
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The application process is conducted through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS).
The department participates in the radiation oncology residency match through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).
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Dejalai Duke
Residency Coordinator, Radiation Oncology
UH Seidman Cancer Center
11100 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 844-2518 Phone
Dejalai.Duke@UHhospitals.org (preferred contact method)