International comparison of postgraduate medical education in radiation oncology

Despite variances in length, scope and content of postgraduate medical education in radiation oncology, there is a thread of commonality that runs through all programs. Aside from the emphasis on internal medicine in Canada and the emphasis on technical radiotherapy in the United States, it is surprising how little different content and duration of training are between the two countries. Similarly, there is movement to standardize training in radiation oncology in Europe that parallels the development of the European Community and the desire of physicians to cross borders.