title: American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) survey of radiation biology educators in U.S. and Canadian radiation oncology residency programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To obtain, in a survey-based study, detailed information on the faculty currently responsible for teaching radiation biology courses to radiation oncology residents in the United States and Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  In March-December 2007 a survey questionnaire was sent to faculty having primary responsibility for teaching radiation biology to residents in 93 radiation oncology residency programs in the United States and Canada.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The responses to this survey document the aging of the faculty who have primary responsibility for teaching radiation biology to radiation oncology residents. The survey found a dramatic decline with time in the percentage of educators whose graduate training was in radiation biology. A significant number of the educators responsible for teaching radiation biology were not fully acquainted with the radiation sciences, either through training or practical application. In addition, many were unfamiliar with some of the organizations setting policies and requirements for resident education. Freely available tools, such as the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Radiation and Cancer Biology Practice Examination and Study Guides, were widely used by residents and educators. Consolidation of resident courses or use of a national radiation biology review course was viewed as unlikely by most programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high priority should be given to the development of comprehensive teaching tools to assist those individuals who have responsibility for teaching radiation biology courses but who do not have an extensive background in critical areas of radiobiology related to radiation oncology. These findings also suggest a need for new graduate programs in radiobiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA. barry.rosenstein@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Barry S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Rosenstein
authors.forename: Kathryn D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Held
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rockwell
authors.forename: Jacqueline P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Elaine M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zeman
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation / Q000592:standards; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D001703:Biophysics / Q000193:education; D002170:Canada; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D008611:Mentors; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D011853:Radiobiology / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D012106:Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D013664:Teaching Materials / Q000600:supply & distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce