title: Beyond the standard curriculum: a review of available opportunities for medical students to prepare for a career in radiation oncology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review currently available opportunities for medical students to supplement their standard medical education to prepare for a career in radiation oncology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Google and PubMed were used to identify existing clinical, health policy, and research programs for medical students in radiation oncology. In addition, results publicly available by the National Resident Matching Program were used to explore opportunities that successful radiation oncology applicants pursued during their medical education, including obtaining additional graduate degrees.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medical students can pursue a wide variety of opportunities before entering radiation oncology. Several national specialty societies, such as the American Society for Radiation Oncology and the Radiological Society of North America, offer summer internships for medical students interested in radiation oncology. In 2011, 30% of allopathic senior medical students in the United States who matched into radiation oncology had an additional graduate degree, including PhD, MPH, MBA, and MA degrees. Some medical schools are beginning to further integrate dedicated education in radiation oncology into the standard 4-year medical curriculum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the authors' knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review of available opportunities for medical students interested in radiation oncology. Early exposure to radiation oncology and additional educational training beyond the standard medical curriculum have the potential to create more successful radiation oncology applicants and practicing radiation oncologists while also promoting the growth of the field. We hope this review can serve as guide to radiation oncology applicants and mentors as well as encourage discussion regarding initiatives in radiation oncology opportunities for medical students.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Ankit
authors: A
authors: Agarwal
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Nicholas J
authors: NJ
authors: DeNunzio
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors: Divya
authors: D
authors: Ahuja
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: Ariel.hirsch@bmc.org.
authors: Ariel E
authors: AE
authors: Hirsch
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D003479:Curriculum; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008611:Mentors; D016730:Program Development; D039781:PubMed; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000193:education*; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States