Radiation Oncology
The Department of Radiation Oncology is a small clinical department in the College of Medicine that was established in 1985. The mission of the department is to provide excellent clinical service representing state-of-the-art approaches; to perform clinical and basic cancer biology research; and to teach students at a variety of levels, particularly medical students, residents, and cancer biology graduate students.
The department offers a residency program in Radiation Oncology, which provides support for six residents. The residency program has in illustrious history and is highly regarded at the national level for its quality, and graduates of the program are highly sought after in both the academic and private fields.
Teaching residents as well as medical students and other fellows involves the teaching of the biological principles of radiation oncology. Clinical teaching is provided by the entire clinical faculty in a Socratic fashion, as well as by clinical participation in the treatment of patients. Our physicists teach a series of lectures on medical physics, which is a required course for our residency program.
Our department is involved in both basic physics research and translational and clinical research. The clinical translational research involves primarily participation in clinical trials, either investigator initiated or industry supported involving analysis of outcomes of novel radiation sensitizers for different cancers.
Patient care in our department involves the delivery of state-of-the art radiation for cancer, as well as a number of benign diseases such as coronary artery restenosis. In many cases, radiation therapy is the single best method for the treatment and cure of cancer. At times, it is combined with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is also used to reduce pressure or control bleeding or pain in cancer patients.
Our clinical faculty provide primary and consultative care to cancer patients. In addition, our faculty specialize in new techniques for cancer treatment and are at the forefront of development of new techniques for radiation delivery, such as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. Our areas of expertise include external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, stereotactic implants, radiosurgery, and intraoperative radiation therapy.
Department Head:
Baldassarre Stea, MD, PhD
Contact information:
Arizona Cancer Center
1515 N. Campbell Avenue, Rm 1968
PO Box 245081
Tucson, AZ 85724-5081
Phone: 520-626-6724
Fax: 520-626-3141
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