Oncology Education in Lithuania: An Integrated Curriculum at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Cancer remains a major health burden in Lithuania, emphasizing the importance of effective undergraduate oncology education. This paper describes the structure and key features of the integrated oncology curriculum at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU). Oncology teaching is embedded within a six-year medical programme, combining early exposure through biomedical sciences with focused clinical training in a mandatory Year IV Hematology and Oncology module. Teaching methods include lectures, small-group seminars, and supervised ward-based learning, with a strong emphasis on case-based discussion and clinical reasoning. Students are introduced to principles of cancer diagnosis, staging, treatment, and multidisciplinary decision-making. Simulation and practical skills training further support clinical competence. Assessment includes written examinations and clinical case assignments, aligned with programme-level evaluations such as OSCE. Teaching is delivered in a multidisciplinary academic environment with structured quality assurance and continuous student feedback. This model provides a clinically grounded and integrated approach to cancer education, ensuring continuity from undergraduate medical education to postgraduate specialist training. Expanding hands-on clinical exposure, strengthening communication training, and incorporating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence may further enhance the curriculum.