The RORS program combines a research intensive residency with an opportunity to continue mentored research after residency as an instructor for up to two years, allowing for a total of 45 months of dedicated scholarly effort. Although Radiation Oncology is one of the key cancer disciplines – along with surgical and medical oncology – it is the only one that does not have a specific track to guide trainees to become independently funded investigators.
While many of our Duke Radiation Oncology Residency graduates have gained important scientific skills that they have used in their careers, the RORS track will provide the time, structure and funding that provide a runway for trainees so that they can lead their own independent research lab after residency. The RORS track will leverage the resources of the Duke School of Medicine’s Office of Physician Scientist Development to provide all the resources necessary to maximize success. The RORS program is another example of Duke Radiation Oncology’s innovative Resident education, which is funded in part by a R38 grant from the National Cancer Institute, the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Duke Cancer Institute.
Read more about the RORS track; visit the Duke Office of Physician Scientist Development; or read more about the R38 Program.
Director of the RORS Track
Physician-Scientist Cohort, RORS Mentors and More
Duke's RORS track featured in IJROBP
Salama JK, Floyd SR, Willett CG, Kirsch DG. Fostering Radiation Oncology Physician Scientist Trainees within a Diverse Workforce: The Radiation Oncology Research Scholar Track. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2021 Jan 4:S0360-3016(20)34746-5. PMID: 33412263.
The article discusses the lack of externally funded physician scientists and the RORS track goal of eliminating barriers preventing radiation oncology trainees from becoming independent physician scientists.