Selection Criteria for Education Submission
- Does the proposal provide important, new or novel insight?
- Does the proposal provide important data or new techniques?
- Is the proposal relevant to radiation oncology, the Annual Meeting and the field?
- Is the proposal creative, original new or cutting edge?
- Is the proposal methodology strong, of high quality and academically rigorous?
- Is the proposal organized, logical and coherent?
- Is the proposal based on current and evidence-based education?
- Does the proposal address overarching practice gaps in patient safety, quality, multidisciplinary care?
- Is the information immediately usable in practice?
- Does it address barriers and challenges to practice?
- Are proposed speakers and moderators new? (Speakers should rotate every three to four years)
- If included, do case studies highlight relevant clinical practice issues and spur discussion?
- Does it highlight or address published ASTRO guidelines or best practices?
- Is it reflective of ASTRO policies/agendas?
Selection Criteria for Master Class Submission
In addition to the above, does this session:
- Require a deeper dive into a specific topic? Workshops, special sessions and master classes are typically reserved for topics that require extended time for presentation, interaction or discussion than a tradition education session.
- Require direct training, breakout topics or pre-reading/work?
- Require expected additional reading by the attendee?
- Address overarching practice gaps in patient safety, quality, multidisciplinary care?
- Provide information immediately usable in practice?
- Address barriers and challenges to practice?
- If included, do case studies highlight relevant clinical practice issues?
Selection Criteria for Storytelling Submission
In addition to the above, does this session:
- Have a design that highlights those affected by cancer and experts in the field of treating cancer to reflect on their experiences through the art of storytelling?
- Address interesting and compelling stories that are not traditionally covered?
- Include stories that touch on policy, engagement, adverse experiences, triumph, equity, diversity and inclusion?
All submissions must have ONE primary track and can have an optional secondary track.
- Breast Cancer
- Central Nervous System
- Digital Health and Informatics
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Health Care
- Education and History in Radiation Oncology
- Gastrointestinal Cancer
- Genitourinary Cancer
- Gynecological Cancer
- Head and Neck Cancer
- Health Policy
- Health Services Research
- Hematologic Malignancies
- Immunotherapy
- International
- Lung Cancer
- Palliative Care
- Patient Reported Outcomes/Survivorship
- Patient Safety and Quality
- Pediatric Cancer
- Practical Radiation Oncology
- Radition and Cancer Biology
- Radiation and Cancer Physics
- Sarcoma and Cutaneous Tumors
In addition, each year the ASTRO President selects a theme that resonates throughout the meeting program. The 2024 theme is Targeting Provider Wellness for Exceptional Patient Care. You will be able to indicate in your submission if it is related to this year's theme.
View the session submission template to assist with your planning purposes. Please note that this is just a planning tool and that all education submissions need to be submitted via the online submission site.
All education submissions should address and incorporate the following criteria to ensure Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism* has been considered in the proposed session content and delivery:
- Is the proposed session content culturally sensitive, diverse, accurate, balanced and evidence-based?
- Does the education activity pertain to and consider different identifies: abilities ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation/identification, religion, etc.?
- Is gender balanced throughout the educational activity, including planner and speakers from underrepresented groups and gender identities and disciplines?
- Does the content address root cause of health disparities, factors that impact patient wellness or provide any mitigating factors to improve patient outcomes?
- Is the content sensitive to those who may experience systemic barriers?
- Do you plan to discuss DEI perspectives of this topic within your session?
- Are there adequate and diverse representation among speakers relevant to patient populations?
- Does the educational activity promote understanding of diverse perspectives, including the values, attitudes and behaviors that support cultural pluralism, if applicable?
- Will the education session address the topics through a diversity, equity and inclusion lens?
*Guidelines and Recommendations for Incorporating DEIA into Continuing Education for Healthcare Professionals © 2022 Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME©).
ASTRO is an accredited provider of continuing medical education and adheres to the policies and standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). As such, abstract authors are required to disclose relationships with ineligible companies.
An ineligible company is defined as “any entity developing, producing, marketing, re-selling or distributing health care goods or services consumed by or used on patients.”
To ensure its compliance, ASTRO expects that the content and related materials will promote improvements or quality in health care and not a specific proprietary business interest or commercial bias.
We employ several strategies to ensure absence of bias:
- Presenters are required to provide disclosure of relationships with commercial interests.
- Presenters are required to provide a balanced view of therapeutic options.
- All abstracts undergo a rigorous peer review process.
- Potential conflicts are managed by additional committee review, advance slide review and session audits.
ASTRO Education Staff Support
Contact the ASTRO Annual Meeting Education team for additional questions.
ASTRO Proposal Submission Site Technical Support
Technical problems should be reported by email to Technical Support.
Urgent technical questions may be asked by phone at 401-334-0220, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.
