Radiation Oncology Clinical Residency

Medical students often ask us, “What is the strength of your program?” Our strength is our breadth. Our nationally recognized clinicians, physicists and biologists make us confident that we lead the nation in this tripartite expertise. 

Obtain excellent clinical training at the University Hospital and the Veterans Hospital. Our array of multi-disciplinary tumor boards and clinics include standards including breast and GU, as well as the esoteric such as adrenal cancer and Merkel cell tumor. Our didactic program includes the standard clinical, biology and physics classes, as well as training in statistics and palliative care. This comprehensive program produces broadly trained physicians and oncologists experienced in state-of-the-art radiation therapy.

A defining aspect of our program is our emphasis on research. Residents making satisfactory clinical progress can spend at least one year exploring research experiences including clinical research, cancer biology, physics, health services research, public policy and more. 

The University of Michigan is the only school in the country with a combination of a top ten medical school, law school, business school, engineering school and school of public health, which gives us an outstanding interdisciplinary education and research environment. Our residents present their work at national meetings, publish multiple papers, many of which contribute to new treatment protocols and are well-prepared to succeed in academics

Longitudinal Mentorship Program

The University of Michigan Radiation Oncology Residency Program is proud to offer a longitudinal mentorship program designed to foster meaningful, lasting relationships throughout residency. Each mentorship group brings together junior faculty members and senior faculty members, alongside two residents from different class years, creating a small, multi-generational community within our larger department. By pairing residents at different stages of training with faculty at different points in their careers, the program offers varied perspectives and a broader network of support than a traditional one-on-one mentor relationship can provide.

Groups meet off site four times a year for lunch, intentionally stepping outside the clinical environment to create space for genuine connection. These gatherings are unstructured by design; there's no set agenda or checklist to work through. Instead, they're an opportunity to build relationships, seek advice on academic or career questions, talk through the everyday challenges of residency, or simply get to know colleagues as people rather than just co-workers. Over time, these regular touchpoints help residents feel more connected, supported, and invested in the department, while giving faculty a low-pressure way to stay engaged with trainees outside of the traditional clinical and academic contexts.