Training Courses

Introduction
Our resident training course is divided into two categories. One is designed for young physicians and surgeons who have 3-5 years of clinical experience to allow generalists to specialize in clinical oncology. Those in this course are simply called residents. Their training period is 3 years. We accept about 12 new residents a year. A second more advanced two-year course is designed to produce future leaders of specific fields. Up to 6 medical doctors with 5-10 years clinical experience enter this program every year, and are called senior residents.
In July 1992, when the National Cancer Center Hospital East (NCCHE) was opened, the resident training course was commenced with 8 young physicians and surgeons. Although there were many difficulties and problems in the beginning, they continued studying as well as carrying out daily clinical work in the hospital. Our training system has developed in close cooperation with staff members. At the first resident graduation in 1995, NCCHE introduced the senior-resident system and increased the number of residents from 8 to 12. With the establishment of a clinical and academic reputation, NCCHE has attracted several voluntary medical trainees including doctors, nurses and technicians.

Routine Activity
The resident curricula at NCCHE consists of two parts; special and rotating courses. For the initial 6 month period, residents are trained in disease- or organ-specific units of their choice. After this, they move to the other clinical units (rotating course) for one or one and half years to obtain a wide basic knowledge and to learn the techniques of clinical oncology. After concluding the rotating course they return to their chosen speciality to graduate as medical or surgical oncologists.
Trainees on the chief resident course spend the first year as physicians or surgeons of specific clinical units. The training program is more targeted to particular organs or diseases. They work as coordinators of residents whom they support in clinical practice. The second year is devoted to basic or clinical research. Staff of the Research Institute and clinical laboratories support them at their request.
Voluntary trainees are divided into two groups; those with guaranteed funding from a domestic or international project and the others. Various training courses are available for voluntary trainees, although the training period is limited to less than a year for any one major field.

New Developments
We have overcome many of the difficulties faced in the beginning of the NCCHE, and have improved the training system year by year. More than 15 articles have been published in English journals by residents or trainees under the tuition of staff members in the Hospital and/or Research Institute in 1997.

Statistics

Number of Residents, Senior Residents and Voluntary Trainees in July 1992-December 1997

Resident Chief resident Voluntary trainee Total

M.D. Nurse Technician Others

1992 8 0 0 0 0 0 8

1993 15 0 0 9 4 0 28

1994 23 0 9 12 1 0 45

1995 27 3 25 10 5 0 70

1996 31 6 37 1 3 2 80

1997 35 7 54 16 5 10 127

Number of Residents, Senior Residents and Voluntary Trainees in July 1992-December 1997
	Resident	Chief resident	Voluntary trainee	Total
M.D.	Nurse	Technician	Others
1992	8	0	0	0	0	0	8
1993	15	0	0	9	4	0	28
1994	23	0	9	12	1	0	45
1995	27	3	25	10	5	0	70
1996	31	6	37	1	3	2	80
1997	35	7	54	16	5	10	127

(S. Yoshida)

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