III. Program Structure

•      The Clinical Training Program in the Clinical Oncology department is a 3 or 5 years (60 months) training period to meet the regulations of the national bylaws of the University Hospitals and postgraduate bylaws of the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University.

•      The resident and trainee will acquire training through the 3-phases based program:

-Phase A extends from the trainee’s commencement in training for 18 months.

-Phase B extends for 18 months, from the satisfactory completion of Phase A. 

-Phase C extends over 24 months.

•      The clinical oncology training program is both units-based and modules-based, applying certified credit hours system. It includes didactic lectures, clinical practice, multi modality tumor clinics, seminars, case discussion, workshops in addition to oral presentation by the resident (trainee). 

Phase A: Basic training (18 months: 68 Credit hours).

    The aim of phase A is to prepare resident (trainee) for subsequent special and advanced phases with good knowledge and skills of the basic medical, surgical & pathological science. Resident (trainee) will acquire the ability to diagnose and manage most of common medical diseases related to cancer in addition to presentations and clinical skills, including communication and working as a team, in the management of complex and chronic medical conditions.

•      The Basic Oncology Sciences section comprises the subjects considered fundamental to the clinical practice of Clinical Oncology.

•      The resident and trainee will complete a 6 months rotation outside the department and 12 months training in the department.

•      Trainee will have rotations in the following specialties as follows:

1.      Internal Medicine

2.      Hematology department

3.      radio diagnosis & Intervention department

4.      ICU

5.      Nuclear Medicine

  The resident and trainee may spend part of this program in other accredited hospitals according to the criteria set for credit transfer.

  Phase B: Specialized training 18 months: 90 credit points)

•      The resident and trainee will spend the whole phase B in NEMROCK, to fulfill the requested credit points. 

•      During this phase, resident and trainee participate directly in cancer patient care, starting from initial consultation to diagnosis procedures, treatment strategy and follow-up plan, under supervision of the attending staff. 

•      During this phase the resident and trainee will acquire all the knowledge and professional clinical skills needed to practice clinical oncology (Medical/Hematology-oncology & Radiation Oncology)

•      Training is Unit - based with each rotation of three months duration 

•      For Master Degree candidates will work on master thesis during this phase, and will be eligible to sit for the second part Master exams by the end of this phase.

Phase C: Advanced training: (24 months: 123 Credit hours) 

•      The purpose is intense training in specified sub-specialties, to fortify the resident and trainee cognitive and practical skills in clinical oncology. 

•      At the completion of the phase, resident and trainee will acquire in depth experience and can master clinical competencies needed for expert professional practice. They should be competent to provide at consultant level, unsupervised comprehensive medical care to cancer patient.

•      For Medical Doctorate candidates, this phase of training provides sound basis for clinical and research excellence, preparing resident and trainee for leadership positions in academic & clinical career giving them the opportunity to enter careers in direct cancer patients care, participate in clinical research as well as teaching clinical oncology to post graduate candidates.

•      External Trainees preparing for the Egyptian Board Certificate may join the program provided that vacancies are available. Special tailoring of their training would be offered depending on their prior experience and the requirements of their certification for at least 3 years.                       

•      They are exempted from preparing a thesis. In such case extra credit points are required for attending the tutorials and lectures as well as for attending scientific activities. (To be decided by the particular department?)

•      The resident (trainee) will rotate as follows: 

1.      18 months Unit-based rotation, in Clinical Oncology (medical/hematology oncology, radiation oncology, palliative care & bone marrow transplantation).

2.      The Last 6 months rotation in one specific sub-specialty: 

•      Medical Oncology

•      Radiation Oncology

•      Hemato-Oncology