DESCRIPTION : This Area of Concentration is intended to permit the student to gain in-depth knowledge of neoplastic diseases. A series of courses, clinical rotations and an individual research project will be used to teach the principles of basic and clinical oncology.
Pre-clinical courses will cover topics in chemical and biologic
carcinogenesis, tumor supressor gene and oncogene regulation, principles of chemotherapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy. Rotations on the various oncology services will provide the student with an overview of the clinical approach involved in the diagnosis, staging and treatment of patients with cancer.
During Years One and Two, each student is expected to gain exposure to research either by initiating an independent research project or by completion of the Type A elective entitled "Introduction to Research in Neoplasia". Subsequent to this introduction period, each student is encouraged to spend at least 200 hours (two months) engaged in a significant basic or clinical research project.
Graduation with the Neoplastic Diseases AoC requires completion of course requirements (see next page). To be nominated for Distinction in Neoplastic Disorders, the student must either write a thesis and/or submit a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. In special circumstances, students with an honors performance in course work and the research project will be considered for Distinction as well.
To gain broad exposure to clinical oncology, each student is expected to perform one month clinical rotation in at least one of the following three groups: 1) medical or pediatric hematology/oncology; 2) surgical or gynecologic oncology; 3) radiation therapy.
|