title: Incorporating gross anatomy education into radiation oncology residency: a 2-year curriculum with evaluation of resident satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiation oncologists require a thorough understanding of anatomy, but gross anatomy is not part of the standard residency curriculum. "Oncoanatomy" is an educational program for radiation oncology residents at Duke University that integrates cadaver dissection into the instruction of oncologic anatomy, imaging, and treatment planning. In this report, the authors document their experience with a 2-year curriculum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen radiation oncology residents from Duke University and the University of North Carolina participated during academic years 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. Monthly modules, based on anatomic site, consisted of one or two clinically oriented hour-long lectures, followed by a 1-hour gross anatomy session. Clinical lectures were case based and focused on radiographic anatomy, image segmentation, and field design. Gross anatomy sessions centered on cadaver prosections, with small groups rotating through stations at which anatomists led cadaver exploration. Adjacent monitors featured radiologic imaging to facilitate synthesis of gross anatomy with imaging anatomy. Satisfaction was assessed on a 10-point scale via anonymous survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty modules were held over the 2-year period. Participants gave the course a median rating of 8 (interquartile range, 7-9), with 1 signifying "as effective as the worst educational activities" and 10 "as effective as the best educational activities." High resident satisfaction was seen with all module components.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incorporating a structured, 2-year gross anatomy-based curriculum into radiation oncology residency is feasible and associated with high resident satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. alvin.cabrera@duke.edu
authors.forename: Alvin R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: W Robert
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.forename: Ershela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sims
authors.forename: Jenny K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: Leonard E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Lawrence B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Junzo P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chino
mesh_terms: D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D004521:Educational Measurement; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009657:North Carolina; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000193:education*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*