ARROgram - February 2025 ARRO Announcements
February 6, 2025
Submit your research for ASTRO 2025!
ASTRO is accepting abstract submissions for ASTRO 2025! Accepted abstracts represent all aspects of oncology, radiation oncology and radiation therapy for non-oncologic conditions. The scientific program features cutting-edge research in all major disease sites, as well as special physics and biology oral abstract sessions. And first authors submitting abstracts from a designated low-income country (as defined by The World Bank), may request a submission fee waiver. Share your research while you connect with colleagues and leaders in the field! Complete your abstract submission by Tuesday, February 25.
ARRO Executive Committee nominations due February 27!
ARRO is now accepting nominations for the 2025-2027 ARRO Executive Committee! Current PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents are eligible for a two-year, nationally elected appointment beginning in May 2025. Nominations must be submitted via email to ARRO by Thursday, February 27. You may nominate yourself.
Nominations should include a current CV, a statement identifying the one subcommittee to which the nominee is applying to lead along with their vision and ideas for ARRO (one-page maximum), and a letter of good standing from the nominee’s residency program director.
These application materials will be posted on the ARRO website for the duration of the elections, which will run from March 6-20. Residents training at the same institutions as current Junior Executive Committee members are not eligible for nomination.* We strongly encourage residents from smaller programs to run for an executive position. Visit the ARRO website for more information.
Please submit your nomination and send any questions via email to ARRO by Thursday, February 27, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Pacific time.
*Eligibility: All PGY2s and PGY3s are eligible except for those from institutions that currently have a resident serving on ARRO as a Junior Executive Member (Cleveland Clinic, MD Anderson, Harvard, Northwell Health).
Join us for an exclusive ARRO webinar: Navigating a Career in Brachytherapy
Are you considering a career in brachytherapy or looking to gain deeper insights into this specialized field of radiation oncology? Join us for an engaging discussion with Shauna McVorran, MD, MHSA, Assistant Professor in the Section of Radiation Oncology at Dartmouth Health. She will share her journey, the challenges and rewards of specializing in brachytherapy, and valuable advice for residents exploring this path.
Date and Time: Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. Eastern time
Virtual Event (Zoom) Register now
Registration is now open for the 2025 Virtual Annual Refresher Course
Join your colleagues online from April 9-11 for this comprehensive review of the latest treatment methods and core competencies for the major disease sites. This is a great review as you prepare to take your Boards and discounted rates are available for students and members-in-training. The Annual Refresher Course is a live virtual meeting led by expert presenters. Three eCountouring sessions are included where you experience hands-on practice cases in Upper GI, Breast and Lymphomas. Along with the Refresher onDemand, there are two bonus onDemand presentations on pediatrics and vulvar and vaginal cancers! Registrants receive discounts on several add-on courses from the ASTRO Annual Meeting. Learn more and register!
You asked, we listened! Brachytherapy Workshop at ASTRO 2025
Based on ARRO resident surveys, residents are interested in greater exposure and competency in brachytherapy. ARRO is collaborating with the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) at this year's Annual ASTRO Conference in San Francisco for a brachytherapy workshop on Saturday, September 27, 2025 (time TBD), that includes both didactics and hands-on sessions. ARRO/ABS would be delighted to help make the workshop as helpful, practical and successful as possible, and to help residents prepare for their Board Exams. Please let us know how we can help.
As a reminder, the ABS offers great resources and discounts for residents! ABS membership is FREE for all residents and trainees and includes:
- Subscription to Brachytherapy, the official journal of the ABS
- Monthly webinars
- Access to members only educational content
- Discounts to all ABS educational events
- Networking and mentoring with leading brachytherapy practitioners
The ABS also has opportunities for resident engagement such as the ABS Resident Committee and the “300 in 10” 2-month program for PGY4 and PGY5 residents interested in improving their brachytherapy skills. This year, ABS will host a pre-meeting resident symposium on Wednesday June 17, 2025, to help kick off the ABS Annual Meeting at the JW Marriott in Nashville, Tennessee. Make sure to check it out.
EAGL Grants are back! Mark your calendar for Advocacy Day in Washington, DC, from May 19-20, 2025
The ASTRO Advocacy Team invites you to join us May 19-20 in Washington, DC, for a look into Congress and the policy issues that affect both you and your patients. Residents and nurses interested in attending Advocacy Day 2025 are encouraged to apply to receive an Emerging Grassroots Leadership (EAGL) Award. Approved applicants will receive a $400 grant to offset the costs of attendance. Applications must be received before March 22 in order to be considered. Learn more on how to apply.
Call for Red Journal cover art!
Please consider submitting your artwork for the Red Journal cover! All forms of art are accepted including photography, paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture. All members of the radiation community are welcome and encouraged to submit. Please reach out to Jennifer Bellon, MD, and Annie LaVigne, MD, with any questions, or submit directly to the journal.
Confused by the new Authorized User (AU) Status Changes?
ASTRO has created a new page reviewing AU status and how to obtain it as a resident. You can either become an AU under the license of your training program, which will then streamline adding you as an AU at subsequent programs/institutions in your career. Your training program can also fill out NRC forms upon graduation addressing requirements. ARRO Communications team will be sharing resources this month on X and Instagram reviewing changes. A powerpoint presentation has further information and direction on how to fill out the NRC forms.
And more education @ The Resource Corner!
New podcast alert! Listen and learn about Health Policy and the Business of Medicine with Amar Rewari, MD, MBA, FASTRO, and Anthony Paravati, MD, MBA, on their new podcast, Value Health Voices. Topics covered include issues important to residents and early career physicians: prior authorization, utilization management, RFK Jr, Medicare payment cuts, and AI in health care. It is streaming on all audio and video channels, be sure to check it out!
Join us at the ROECSG and ASTRO Spring Symposium in May
This year, ASTRO and the Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group (ROECSG) will be hosting the Annual Spring Symposium on Friday, May 16, in Houston! This year’s theme is "Radiation Oncology Education as a Driver of Patient-Centered Care." Register and submit your abstract today to attend the best education-centered radiation oncology conference around! Accepted abstracts will be published electronically in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (Red Journal).
Remember to follow ARRO on social media!
We at ARRO provide resident input into professional organizations, disseminate information, and foster communication among residents. Follow us on our freshly-minted ARRO Instagram (arro_org) or Twitter/X where we post about events, scholarships, grants, educational resources, networking opportunities and more. Direct Messaging on both Instagram and Twitter/X is the fastest way to reach us.
Connect with ASTRO Leadership on the ROhub Student Community
Looking for an easy and direct way to connect with ASTRO leadership with questions and issues important to you? Join the conversation with ARRO leadership and ASTRO Board members, including Sameer Keole, MD, FASTRO; Howard Sandler, MD, MS, FASTRO; and Jeff Michalski, MD, MBA, FASTRO. Introduce yourself to the community on the Introduce Yourself thread and feel free to pose any questions you have about the field of radiation oncology. All student, graduate student, and PGY-1 members have already been subscribed to daily digests and added to the community.
To view the community, navigate to ROhub and select My Communities or visit the community directly.
You can also enroll in Mentor Match, hosted on ROhub, today in a few easy steps.
