Physician Residency Core Competencies Current Residents FAQ Overview Typical Schedule Why UCI? Core Competencies Home Research Research: Clinical Departments Radiation Oncology: Home Radiation Oncology: Education > Physician Residency > Core Competencies A Well-balanced Physician The Radiation Oncology Residency program at UCI is designed to graduate a well-balanced physician who possesses the ability and wherewithal to thrive in any practice environment. By imparting them with self-confidence and providing them with the steadfast foundation for lifelong learning, we aim to help our residents attain their full potential as healers, investigators, scientists, and leaders in medicine. The overall length of the residency training in Radiation Oncology is 48 months. In accordance with the Program Requirements for Residency Education specified by the ACGME, at least 36 months will be spent by the resident in clinical radiation oncology at the UCI Medical Center (Orange campus) and its integrated program at the Veteran's Administration and the California Proton Therapy Center. Scholarly activity is a requirement for all residents. Presentation of a submission-ready manuscript is required to obtain a certificate of completion, and may be clinical, health services, translational or basic laboratory research. All are encouraged to submit the result of their research for presentation at scientific conferences as well as for peer-reviewed publication. Six Core Competencies UCI Radiation Oncology is committed to teaching residents according to the following six core competencies as designated by the ACGME; patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism and system-based practice. Patient care (PC) Provide patient care through safe, efficient, appropriately utilized, quality-controlled radiation therapy and effectively communicate with the referring physician and/or other appropriate individuals in a timely manner. Medical knowledge (MK) Engage in continuous learning using up to date evidence and applying appropriate state of the art radiation therapy techniques to meet the needs of patients, referring physicians and the health care system. Practice-based learning and improvement (PBLI) Participation in the evaluation of one's personal practice utilizing scientific evidence, practice guidelines and standards as metrics, and self-assessment programs in order to optimize patient care through lifelong learning. Interpersonal and communication skills (IC) Communicate effectively with patients, colleagues, referring physicians and other members of the health care team concerning informed consent, safety issues, and the indications for and the benefits, risks, and side effects of radiation, as well as the integration with other treatment modalities and the proper work-up and follow-up of patients. Communicate effectively with all members of the health care team regarding specific patient management issues. Professionalism (P) Commit to high standards of professional conduct, demonstrating altruism, compassion, honesty and integrity. Follow principles of ethics and confidentiality and consider religious, ethnic, gender, educational and other differences in interacting with patients and other members of the health care team System-based practice (SBP) Understand how the components of the local and national healthcare system function interdependently and how changes to improve the system involve group and individual efforts. Optimize coordination of patient care both within one's own practice and within the healthcare system. Consult with other healthcare professionals, and educate healthcare consumers, regarding the most appropriate utilization of radiation oncology resources.