Welcome to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s radiation oncology residency program. With 24 residents and 57 faculty members at our Manhattan campus, we are one of the largest radiation oncology training programs in the country. Our residents come from diverse educational and personal backgrounds, bringing their unique strengths to our residency.
Throughout their four years of training, our residents work one-on-one with leaders in clinical radiation oncology, medical physics, translational research, and basic science. Residents become highly trained in modern radiotherapy techniques, including proton therapy, radiosurgery, image-guided radiotherapy, brachytherapy, and procedures such as intraoperative radiation therapy, total body irradiation, and total skin electron beam therapy.
As part of training in a comprehensive cancer center, residents also routinely learn from experts in surgical oncology, medical oncology, and translational medicine. A dedicated year of protected research time provides residents an opportunity to participate in scholarly clinical and/or laboratory research.
Our graduates leave this program well prepared to become leaders in radiation oncology.
Our Mission
Welcome to the Radiation Oncology Residency Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
I am incredibly fortunate to help lead a program that I believe offers one of the very best residency training experiences in radiation oncology. MSK is an extraordinary place to train. Our residents benefit from outstanding clinical education, dedicated faculty mentorship, abundant research opportunities, and access to the full spectrum of modern radiation oncology technology and expertise.
Our clinical training is rigorous and comprehensive. Residents care for patients from across New York City, the tri-state area, the country, and the world. They learn from faculty who are deeply committed to both patient care and resident education. Our didactic curriculum is carefully curated and continuously updated, drawing on world experts not only in radiation oncology, but across subspecialties.
Research and career development are also central to the MSK experience. Residents have up to 12 months of protected academic time and access to opportunities in clinical trials, translational research, basic science, imaging, data science, health services, disparities, global oncology, health policy, and more. Many present nationally, publish high-impact papers, compete successfully for grants, and pursue ambitious academic goals, including through the Holman Pathway. MSK has the largest cohort of Holman Pathway residents in the country, reflecting our deep commitment to training physician-scientists.
Just as importantly, we recognize that there is no single path to becoming a leader in radiation oncology. Our goal is not to push every resident down the same road. It is to help each resident discover what excites them, define the impact they want to have, and build the skills and mentorship to get there.
That philosophy is reflected in the remarkable people who train here. Our residents have earned national recognition through NIH awards, research fellowships, public health honors, and leadership roles in national organizations. They have contributed to guideline development, advised policy groups, launched biotechnology companies, and pursued creative work as artists and writers. Many go on to become leaders in radiation oncology and beyond, supported by a large and connected alumni network.
We are also committed to training physicians who are thoughtful, compassionate, and prepared to care for a diverse patient population. The diversity of our patients strengthens our training environment and reminds us every day of the responsibility and privilege of caring for people with cancer.
Of course, residency is not only about clinical work, research, and career development. We are proud of the community our residents and faculty have built together. People genuinely enjoy spending time with one another, both inside and outside the hospital. Residents and faculty gather for dinners, events at faculty homes, workout classes, and the many smaller moments that make the program feel connected. We are also lucky to train in New York City, a place that is energetic, inspiring, and, in my admittedly biased opinion, the best city in the world.
But what really sets our program apart is our residents. They are brilliant, kind, collaborative, fun, and genuinely supportive of one another. They push each other, celebrate each other, and look out for each other. More than anyone else, they shape the culture of our program, and they are the reason I am so optimistic about the future of our field.
Training at MSK is demanding, but it is also deeply rewarding. This is a place filled with people who will challenge you, support you, and help you grow into the physician you want to become. I am proud of the community we have built, and I am excited to welcome those who may become part of it.
Sincerely,
Danny Gorovets