Expanding the Horizon of Medical Education in Radiation Oncology

The care for patients using radiation therapy is, at its core, an educational enterprise. Every radiotherapy treatment course is the product of sustained learning from the healthcare team, the patients and caregivers. The educational mandate of radiation medicine is beyond medical residency training, continuing professional development or patient navigation. It sits at the intersection of complex, multi-disciplinary decision making, precise technical delivery and long-term supportive care. Education remains the primary mechanism by which quality care is determined, delivered and improved. This edition of Seminars in Radiation Oncology features a series of articles which are motivated by a common premise: education in radiation oncology deserves the same scientific rigor as our clinical trials and technology assessments. Taken all together, these articles illustrate the breadth and depth of medical education in radiation oncology. They serve as strong examples of scholarship and should stimulate the reader to observe medical education in their own setting, identify potential gaps, and thoughtfully approach ways to improve radiation oncology medical education. Consider this a call to action to our specialty, to expand our horizons and the rigor of radiation oncology medical education research, noting its fundamental place in oncology care.