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ARROgram #33
July 2005 Newsletter
July 1, 2005

In this issue:

1. ABR changes resident absence policy.
2. ARRO program at ASTRO.
3. Update on the written boards.
4. ACR rationales available.
5. Upcoming events.

1. The ABR has issued a new policy on resident absence during training that reduced non-academic leave time to a total of 80 days over the four years of residency (previous policy was 120 days). In the last week, we have received a tremendous response from residents and faculty from across the country opposing this policy change. On behalf of radiation oncology residents, ARRO has written a formal letter to the ABR to contest this change. The letter was sent to you in our previous ARROgram (#32).

2. The ARRO Program for ASTRO will be held on Saturday October 15. The exciting research seminar will tentatively begin at 10 am with a lunch/faculty panel discussion to follow. The practice entry and boards exam seminars will start at 1pm. The Annual ARRO reception will be held at B-52's Billiards at 8:00 pm. Hope to see you all there!

Don't forget to register and reserve housing:
https://reg.jspargo.com/astro05/reg/default.asp
https://reg.jspargo.com/astro05/housing/

3. Update for written boards from Lawrence Davis, M.D.: The time available for each of the written exams (clinical, biology, physics) is four hours. Each exam has approximately 225 questions or sometimes a few more. All are A type questions (multiple choice with a single best answer).

4. Rationales for ACR inservice exam are available at: http://www.acr.org/s_acr/sec.asp?CID=2828&DID=18249.

We are continuing to work with the ACR to provide more complete and detailed rationales in the future.

5. Upcoming dates and events:

July 20-22, 2005 - Written ABR Boards
August 5-6 - Translational Research in Radiation Oncology Symposium - San Francisco
October 16-20 - ASTRO Denver, Colo.
March 20-21 - AMA Advocacy/Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.

Check out our updated Web site for further information at www.arro.org.

Questions or Comments? Contact your representatives: Shilpen Patel, Chair, spatel@umm.edu; Eric Hansen,Vice Chair, hansen@radonc17.ucsf.edu; John Wilson, Treasurer, wilsonj@xrt.upenn.edu; Joshua Petit, Education Officer, jpetit@partners.org; Kenneth Chao, Events Coordinator, kchao@beaumont.edu; Eugene Huang, Election Officer, ehhuang@mdanderson.org