Radiation-Oncology

Contacts

Specialty Advisor, Residency Program Director, & Specialty Interest Group Faculty Advisor

Specialty Interest Group Email

APEX Champion

Specialty Overview

A radiation oncologist is a physician that specializes in the use of ionizing radiation to provide therapeutic benefits to patients via external beam radiation, brachytherapy, intra-operative radiation and radiopharmaceuticals.

A radiation oncologist uses ionizing radiation and other modalities to treat malignant and benign diseases. Radiation oncologists also may use computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and positron emission tomography (PET) as additional interventions to aid in treatment planning and delivery.

Radiation oncology is distinct from other radiology specialties such as diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology as radiation oncology is a clinical oncology specialty.

Radiation Oncology | Careers in Medicine (AAMC CiM log in required)

How long is this specialty's residency?

Radiation oncology residency training is typically four years plus a preliminary year.

Websites for Reference

Patient Education – ROECSG

Away Electives

Away Electives

Recommended

How many aways should I do?

1

Order of Away vs Home

Take their home rotation in the specialty BEFORE they do an away elective

Programs where ISMMS students have completed away electives.

State
Institution
Rotations

MA

Harvard Medical School / Brigham Women's Hospital

1

NY

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

3

PA

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

1

Match Statistics

Information provided by the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) Charting Outcomes in the Match, last updated August 2024 and 2025 ERAS Data

Mean Number of Contiguous Ranks

16.1

Mean USMLE Step 2 CK Score

252

Mean Number of Research Experiences

4.2

Mean Number of Abstracts, Presentations and Publications

15.9

Competitiveness

Source: 2025 Match Advanced Data Tables

In the 2025 Match there were 179 advanced positions in 81 programs, 70.4% of positions were filled by U.S. MD Seniors.

In the 2025 Match there were 12 categorical preliminary positions in 7 programs, 75% of positions were filled by U.S. MD Seniors.

Application Information

Application System

ERAS

Match System

NRMP

Signaling

Source: ERAS Signaling and 2025 ERAS Data

How Many?

4

Signal Home Program?

No

Signal Away Program?

Check with individual programs

Average Number of Applications Submitted

35.76

Letters of Recommendation

Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE)?

No

Departmental/Chair Letter?

Yes

Who should other letters come from?

1 Chair

1 Sinai PD

2 Rad Onc faculty at Sinai or from away rotation

Interviewing and Post Interview Communication

Applications are downloaded by programs...

On the first date they are available- students should submit everything prior to that date

This specialty’s MSH program interviews all ISMMS students who apply.

Yes

Interviews are sent out...

Within one month of applications being released to programs

Thank You Emails

Yes, definitely a good idea.

Letters of Intent

Yes, letters of intent are helpful to programs and applicants but make sure you're only sending to one program if you are telling them they are #1 on your rank list. Consult with an advisor before sending.


ISMMS Match Data 2020-2025

Institution Name
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Total

Icahn SOM at Mount Sinai-NY

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

Memorial Sloan-Kettering-NY

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

NYU Grossman School Of Medicine-NY

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

Stony Brook Teach Hosps-NYÂ

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

U Texas MD Anderson Cancer Ctr

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

UC San Francisco-CA

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

Univ of Chicago Med Ctr-IL

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

Possible 'At Risk' Identifiers

Applicants who are very geographically restricted

Last updated