University of Minnesota Program

Program Identity & Fit

The University of Minnesota Radiation Oncology Residency is a university-based academic program anchored at the Minneapolis campus, with satellite rotations spanning the VA Medical Center, University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, M Health Maple Grove, and Fairview Lakes Medical Center, giving residents exposure across pediatric, veteran, and community-hospital oncology populations rather than a single tertiary silo. The curriculum is structured around dedicated physics and radiobiology coursework (shared with the CAMPEP-accredited Medical Physics graduate program), one-to-one faculty teaching, treatment planning conference, chart rounds, and tumor boards, reflecting a program that treats physics fluency as core to clinical training rather than an adjunct. Resident academic interests as showcased range from translational/bench work (tumor heterogeneity, quantitative MRI physics, immunotherapy-radiotherapy synergy) to health-disparities research in underserved Native American populations and community outreach, indicating the program accommodates both physician-scientist and clinically/community-oriented trajectories within the same cohort. The categorical position begins with a preliminary year at Hennepin Healthcare, a safety-net institution, reinforcing an identity that blends academic rigor with a strong public-hospital service component.