Mock Orals Course
Presented by the University of Maryland Department of Radiation Oncology
Virtual one-on-one mock orals held on Friday
Question & answer sessions on pre-recorded didactics held Sunday
Didactic lectures are pre-recorded for attendees to watch on their own between Friday and Sunday. The course is intended for those taking their exam in 2024.
About the Course
The purpose of this interactive course is to simulate a radiation oncology oral board examination through series of virtual one-on-one timed 
interviews reviewing high yield cases with individual feedback (day one on Friday) and a didactic half-day session (day two on Sunday) with disease-site experts providing an overview with practical tips.* Pre-recorded didactic lectures will be shared for attendees to view on their own on Saturday. Then on Sunday, disease-site experts will hold live virtual 30-minute question and answer sessions. The instructors for this course include a combination of invited nationally recognized faculty and our own top-ranked faculty in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Pictured above: 2019 University of Maryland Mock Orals Course examiners
*Faculty/guest examiners of this course are not current oral board examiners. Examiners for this course do not have a role in the development or administration of examinations. Course material presented at the event will not appear on any oral board examination.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to/ will:
- Experience one-on-one case-based interviews for all disease sites which are important for the final oral examination.
- Practice delivery of answers in an examination atmosphere.
- Obtain individualized verbal feedback at the end of each session.
- Receive tumor site specific group feedback.
- Review high-yield cases with practical tips by site experts.
Target Audience
The course is dedicated to aid young practicing radiation oncologists across the country prepare for the oral board examination. The course is intended for:
● First year residency graduates preparing for initial certification
● Practicing physicians preparing for re-examination
2024 Course Director
Sarah Anne McAvoy, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Vice Chair for Education
Director of the Medical Residency Program
2023 Additional Lead Examiners - 2024 Examiners Announced Soon!
Gastrointestinal - Co-Examiner
William F. Regine, MD, FACR, FASTRO FACRO
Isadore & Fannie Schneider Foxman Chair
and Professor of Radiation Oncology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Gastrointestinal - Lead
Keith R. Unger, MD
Professor of Radiation Medicine
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Head & Neck - Lead
Matthew J. Ferris, MD
Assistant Professor
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Central Nervous System - Lead
Jonathan W. Lischalk, MD
Assistant Professor and Director of Research
Department of Radiation Oncology
New York University Long Island School of Medicine
Thoracic - Lead
Russell Kenneth Hales, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
and Molecular Radiation Sciences
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Genitourinary - Lead
Jason Kyle Molitoris, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Pediatrics - Lead
Young Kwok, MD
Professor of Radiation Oncology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Lymphoma-Lead
Jillian R. Gunther, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
2023 Non-Lead Co-Examiners - 2024 Co-Examiners Announced Soon!
|
Gynecologic |
Gynecologic |
| Breast Rashmi Benda, MD Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology University of Maryland School of Medicine |
Breast Sara Dudley, MD Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine |
|
Gastrointestinal |
Gastrointestinal Jordan R. Kharofa, MD Associate Professor of Clinical Vice Chair of Education University of Cincinnati College of Medicine |
| Head & Neck Harry Quon, MD Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology, Molecular Radiation Sciences Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine |
Head & Neck |
| Central Nervous System Tejan P. Diwanji, MD Radiation Oncologist Kaiser Foundation, Maryland |
Central Nervous System Lindsay M. Burt, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology University of Utah |
| Thoracic Stephanie Rice, MD Radiation Oncologist Cancer Centers of Northern Arizona Healthcare – Flagstaff |
Thoracic Melissa Vyfhuis, MD, PhD Visiting Assistant Professor University of Maryland School of Medicine |
| Genitourinary Dan K. Kunaprayoon, MD Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology University of Maryland School of Medicine |
Genitourinary Arpit M. Chhabra, MD Assistant Clinical Professor Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Siani Attending Radiation Oncologist New York Proton Center |
| Pediatrics Matthew Michael Ladra, MD, MPH Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine |
Pediatrics Cristina M. DeCesaris, MD Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology The University of Utah |
| Lymphoma Wendla K. Citron, MD Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology University of Maryland School of Medicine |
Lymphoma Zaker H. Rana, MD Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology University of Maryland School of Medicine |
Course Coordinator
For questions about the course, please contact the course coordinator Jessica White, jessica.white@umm.edu, 410-328-7618.
Registration & Refund Policy
To maximize the one-on-one time with examiners, we have a limited number of examination spots available. This course is intended for those taking their exam in 2024.
Advanced registration is required. Once a registration is submitted, you will have 24 hours to submit a request for refund. After that time, a refund cannot be provided.
Testimonials from 2022
"I could tell all the mock board examiners wanted us to learn and do well. They gave appropriate and helpful critiques, and I was grateful there was a course like that to help meprepare for the actual exam."
"This experience was invaluable. It reflects extremely wellon the commitment to education by the faculty at the University of Maryland and the guest examiners."
"Excellent lectures, high yield, excellent experts, great simulation of actual oral board exam."
"Everything was excellent top to bottom"
"Fantastic examiner, ran through several cases with relevant side questions, and the lecture afterwards was unbelievably helpful and clear."
"Made it very similar to the feel of the actual exam and I appreciate his candor and straightforwardness."
"Excellent, thoughtful, highlighted key clinical points, enjoyed the discussion, thanks!"
"Everything exceeded expectations"
"This was excellent in how it was run, very professional, much appreciated"
100% of attendees in 2022 reported that they passed their oral boards.
Testimonials from 2021
"Getting a real life full day experience of the examination made me feel so much more confident when it came to the actual exam day."
'"The virtual Mock Orals Course and didactic lectures were instrumental in preparing attendees for the oral board examination. The Mock Orals accurately simulated the environment and testing style of the examination, and the didactic lectures included a comprehensive review of the disease sites and relevant literature that solidified knowledge of the subject matter."
"High quality examiners. Realistic degree of difficulty. Awesome 30-45 minute recap videos. Great Q & A season with examiners afterwards."
"The examiners were thorough and provided excellent feedback. The organization/coordination of all activities was seamless."
"Professional and realistic testing environment"
"This is the best oral board prep course I had. I genuinely appreciate everyone who took their time to put this course together and to teach us. I feel more confident for my real exam after I took this course. Thank you!"
"Would 100% recommend to future test takers"
Testimonials from 2019
"This is perhaps the best type of course for board preparation. I would encourage anyone who is taking the oral boards to enroll."
"The closely simulated atmosphere. To calm my nerves at the boards I just imaged I was back in Maryland going from room to room and that took some stress off."
"Going through the actual process of sitting through cases with an examiner and moving from room to room for each disease site was instrumental in preparing me for the real thing."
"This was HIGHLY recommended to me by a last year's participant, and I will HIGHLY recommend it to the upcoming examinees."
Testimonials from 2018
"The quality of the exam and thoughtful individualized feedback with each session far exceeded expectations."
“The mock orals was an accurate depiction of the actual test. It showed me my strengths and weaknesses, helped focus my study, and the feedback was invaluable.”
“Worth doing. Already have recommended to others.”
“It was good to experience being interviewed by someone who I had not previously known or worked with.”
"I truly cannot thank the organizers enough. This was incredibly valuable for me and I will certainly recommend the course to the next group."