During this rotation, residents should develop an approach to the following conditions:

• Makes a thorough and accurate assessment of the signs and symptoms of cancer

• Recognizes and manages common treatment related toxicities

• Recognizes and manages oncologic emergencies

• Understands the principles for the use of systemic therapy in the treatment of cancer

• Able to make appropriate treatment choices in the palliation of symptoms

Assessment of signs and symptoms of cancer*

• Common treatment-related toxicities

• Febrile neutropenia

• Hypercalcemia

• Tumour lysis syndrome

• Spinal cord compression

• Principles of systemic therapy

• Palliative care planning

• Breaking bad news

OTHER OBJECTIVES:*

• Apply medical knowledge, clinical skills and professional attitudes in the provision of patient-centred care.

• Effectively work with the healthcare team to achieve optimal patient care.

  • Understand the importance of the multidisciplinary team in the management of cancer patients.

  • Interact well with other health care and allied health care professionals.

• Communicate effectively with patients and other health care professionals.

  • Establish rapport with patients.

  • Understand the key concepts of breaking bad news.

  • Demonstrate good oral and written communication skills.

• Advance the health and well-being of patients, communities and populations.

  • Discuss the association between smoking and the development of certain cancers.

  • Discuss the impact of diet and lifestyle of the incidence and recurrence of certain cancers.

*Updated August 2025

By the end of this rotation, residents will be graded as “progressing as expected” in each of the following and in the Global Rating.  The expected level of performance in the PGY1 year is Interpreter level,  PGY2 is Manager level, PGY3 is Educator level (See Program Information - Overall Goals and Objectives).

1. Medical Expert

• Data Collection and Clinical Reasoning: The resident appropriately collects and synthesizes clinical information to formulate a primary diagnosis and appropriate differential.

• Clinical Decision Making: The resident is able to make appropriate and cost-effective investigation and management decisions based on the context of the case and best available evidence.

2. Communicator

• Patient and Family Communication: The resident communicates with and about patients and family in a patient-centred manner.

• Documentation and Verbal Presentation: The resident appropriately documents and presents cases for new consults, progress notes, and handover of care (succinctly organized, prioritized, summarized) including answering the question asked by the referring service.

3. Collaborator

• Interdisciplinary Team: The resident works well in a team, shares work, and interacts with referring physician and other healthcare providers effectively.

4. Leader

• Efficiency: The resident prioritizes tasks and manages time effectively.

5. Health Advocate

• Patient Advocacy: The resident addresses disease prevention, risk factor reduction, and health surveillance when indicated.

6. Scholar

• Personal and Team-based Learning:  The resident demonstrates an effective personal learning strategy (reading around cases, appropriate use of resources) and shares knowledge with other team members.

7. Professional

• Scope of Practice: The resident is trustworthy and responsible, knows limitations (asks for help appropriately), and responds well to feedback.

Assessment

We use the following In-Training Evaluation Report (ITER):  

• Medical Oncology

Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs)

This rotation focuses on mainly Core of the Discipline EPAs. However, due to scheduling, a resident may do this rotation during Foundations. Residents are allowed to start Core of Discipline EPAs during the Foundations stage. This rotation is an ideal learning environment for the following EPAs:

• FD3: Consulting specialists and other health professionals, synthesizing recommendations, and integrating these into the care plan

• FD6: Discussing and establishing patients’ goals of care

• CD2: Assessing, diagnosing, and managing patients with complex chronic diseases

• CD6: Assessing capacity for medical decision-making (e.g. Refusing recommended treatment)

• CD7: Discussing serious and/or complex aspects of care with patients, families, and caregivers (e.g. Breaking bad news)

• CD9: Caring for patients at the end of life

• CD10: Implementing health promotion strategies in patients with or at risk for disease  (e.g. Counselling on immunocompromised state)

Program Director

Dr. Sanraj Basi

sanraj.basi@albertahealthservices.ca

Medical Education Program Coordinator

medonc@ualberta.ca