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Statement of Need
A10
I. J. Radiation Oncology d Biology d Physics
Volume 81, Number 2, Supplement, 2011
STATEMENT OF NEED Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer deaths worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 11 million in 2030. Nearly two thirds of these patients will receive radiation therapy during their illness – most with the intent to cure the cancer. Advances in the applications, technologies, and methodologies of radiation oncology continue to evolve rapidly and the delivery of radiation therapy has become more complex, making it imperative that the radiation oncology professional remain current in the state-ofthe-art updates and techniques. The American Society for Radiation Oncology is committed to providing educational programming that creates a forum for global collaboration on issues in radiation oncology to improve professional practice by increasing their level of knowledge, as required to improve competency in the field of oncology.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES The 2011 Annual Meeting program, presented by preeminent clinicians and researchers, is designed to disseminate new scientific findings and technical advances. Attendees will receive state-of-the-art practice information relating to radiation, and surgical and medical oncology. Embracing the multidisciplinary approach to cancer care is essential to quality care. Research presented from medical and surgical oncologists, pathologists, and allied professionals will enhance the interdisciplinary nature of the program. The Annual Meeting will feature a continued emphasis on quality and safety issues in the delivery of radiation therapy in the areas of treatment techniques, equipment, terminology, and professional responsibilities. Program content has been designed to address a specific, documented, and clinically important practice gap in physician knowledge in the areas of patient safety and quality improvement. A sample of topics to be covered includes presentations on molecular and radiation biology, translational research, standard, investigational and experimental therapeutics, image guided radiation therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, treatment planning, alternative fractionation, and emerging technologies. Specific clinical areas include breast, central nervous system, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecological, head and neck, informatics and bioinformatics, lung, lymphoma, musculoskeletal, nonmalignant disease, and pediatric cancer. Palliation, side effects, and survivorship issues will be addressed as well as areas of health policy and socioeconomics. These topics are presented in a combination of educational sessions, panel discussions, proffered papers, and poster presentations.
ELEMENTS OF COMPETENCE This program has been designed to narrow the competency gaps of patient-centered care, medical knowledge, quality improvement, and work in interdisciplinary teams, four of the 15 core competencies embraced by the American Board of Medical Specialties, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and the Institute of Medicine.
TARGET AUDIENCE The Annual Meeting scientific program is intended for all health professionals involved in the field of oncology, with particular emphasis on radiation oncologists, radiation oncology residents, radiation biologists, radiation physicists, medical dosimetrists, radiation therapists, and radiation oncology nurses.
I. J. Radiation Oncology d Biology d Physics
Volume 81, Number 2, Supplement, 2011
STATEMENT OF NEED Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer deaths worldwide are projected to continue to rise to over 11 million in 2030. Nearly two thirds of these patients will receive radiation therapy during their illness – most with the intent to cure the cancer. Advances in the applications, technologies, and methodologies of radiation oncology continue to evolve rapidly and the delivery of radiation therapy has become more complex, making it imperative that the radiation oncology professional remain current in the state-ofthe-art updates and techniques. The American Society for Radiation Oncology is committed to providing educational programming that creates a forum for global collaboration on issues in radiation oncology to improve professional practice by increasing their level of knowledge, as required to improve competency in the field of oncology.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES The 2011 Annual Meeting program, presented by preeminent clinicians and researchers, is designed to disseminate new scientific findings and technical advances. Attendees will receive state-of-the-art practice information relating to radiation, and surgical and medical oncology. Embracing the multidisciplinary approach to cancer care is essential to quality care. Research presented from medical and surgical oncologists, pathologists, and allied professionals will enhance the interdisciplinary nature of the program. The Annual Meeting will feature a continued emphasis on quality and safety issues in the delivery of radiation therapy in the areas of treatment techniques, equipment, terminology, and professional responsibilities. Program content has been designed to address a specific, documented, and clinically important practice gap in physician knowledge in the areas of patient safety and quality improvement. A sample of topics to be covered includes presentations on molecular and radiation biology, translational research, standard, investigational and experimental therapeutics, image guided radiation therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, treatment planning, alternative fractionation, and emerging technologies. Specific clinical areas include breast, central nervous system, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, gynecological, head and neck, informatics and bioinformatics, lung, lymphoma, musculoskeletal, nonmalignant disease, and pediatric cancer. Palliation, side effects, and survivorship issues will be addressed as well as areas of health policy and socioeconomics. These topics are presented in a combination of educational sessions, panel discussions, proffered papers, and poster presentations.
ELEMENTS OF COMPETENCE This program has been designed to narrow the competency gaps of patient-centered care, medical knowledge, quality improvement, and work in interdisciplinary teams, four of the 15 core competencies embraced by the American Board of Medical Specialties, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and the Institute of Medicine.
TARGET AUDIENCE The Annual Meeting scientific program is intended for all health professionals involved in the field of oncology, with particular emphasis on radiation oncologists, radiation oncology residents, radiation biologists, radiation physicists, medical dosimetrists, radiation therapists, and radiation oncology nurses.