The UAB Department of Radiation Oncology has partnered with Varian to develop a three-day conference that discusses and demonstrates stereotactic radiation (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation (SBRT) delivery with Eclipse™ and TrueBeam™. Read below for more information.
2025 Course Dates:
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Jan. 27-29 – IN PERSON
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Feb. 24-26 – VIRTUAL
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April 21-23 - IN PERSON
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Aug. 11-13 – IN PERSON
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Sept. 15-17 – IN PERSON
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Oct. 20-22 – VIRTUAL
Questions: Valeria Glenn, vglenn@uabmc.edu
Course Information
Who should attend
The course is ideally suited for a multidisciplinary team of 3-4 individuals planning to deliver advanced therapies with Eclipse and TrueBeam, including CNS radiosurgery and sterotactic body radiation therapy. Curriculum is suitable for radiation physicists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, and dosimetrists. Eclipse is utilized extensively during the lab portion of the course. Thus, this course is not ideal for institutions not planning to utilize Eclipse for treatment planning.
AMA Accreditation
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 18.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.
CAMPEP Accreditation
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Physics Division is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Programs (CAMPEP) to provide continuing medical education for physicists. For SRS and SBRT Delivery with Eclipse™ and TrueBeam™ conference, an application for 18.50 MPCECs has been submitted to CAMPEP. Physicists should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Radiation Oncology is approved by the Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board (MDCB) to provide continuing education credit for Certified Medical Dosimetrists. MDCB designates “SRS and SBRT Delivery with Eclipse™ and TrueBeam™” conference for a maximum of 16 CE Category 1 Credit(s). Dosimetrists should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Due to changes in regulatory requirements for remote learning, we will be unable to offer dosimetry CME credits for remote sessions. Dosimetry CME credits are available for the in-person course.
Duration and Location
The conference is a three-day course hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Radiation Oncology at the Hazelrig-Salter Radiation Oncology Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
Course Content
Course content is taught by a multidisciplinary team from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, including subspecialty surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical physicists. The course content can be individually focused on specific sites (e.g. neuro or thoracic), depending upon the interests of those enrolled. The course is a complete “how to” with didactic and laboratory experiences for advanced therapies with TrueBeam including:
- Commissioning and QA
- 4D Simulation
- Respiratory motion management
- Triggered imaging
- RapidArc Radiosurgery
- High Intensity Mode (flattening filter free @2400 MU/min)
- Clinical implementation of advanced procedures in CNS, H/N, lung, liver, spine, and prostate
- Navigation bronchoscopy for fiducial placement
The course includes laboratory experiences that mimic the clinical process, including mock tumor board, contouring, and treatment planning.
INCLUDES: The course tuition includes course material. Travel and lodging are NOT included. Course participants are responsible for all travel expenses and incidentals.
NOTE: Eclipse is utilized extensively during the lab portion of the course. Thus, this course is not ideal for institutions not planning to utilize Eclipse for treatment planning
Goals
To increase the clinical understanding, preparedness and uptake of SRS and SBRT on Varian’s TrueBeam STx platform across the user community, by creating a taught environment where existing best practices can be shared and replicated.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Training Course, it is intended that course participants will:
- Understand the rationale, clinical advantages, and risks associated with SRS/SBRT
- Have a clear view of a typical SRS/SBRT clinical workflow, including: selection of patient, pre-planning considerations, patient immobilization, imaging and motion management, SRS/SBRT treatment planning with IMRS/VMAT, QA checks, treatment delivery and follow-up
- Know the clinical basis for using SRS/SBRT for the clinical disease sites presented by University of Alabama at Birmingham during the clinical school
- Understand the salient differences between frame-based and frameless treatments
- Understand the salient differences between conical applicator and IMRS/VMAT approaches
- Know how to evaluate SRS/SBRT treatment plans with reference to the technical and clinical guidelines used by University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Have been given opportunities to understand, with hands-on experience where feasible, the processes associated with immobilization of the patient, and localization of the tumor used at University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Have been shown all of the functionality within TrueBeam STx which is of clinical relevance to SRS/SBRT treatments at University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Have hands-on experience of setting-up and delivering an SRS/SBRT test plan on the TrueBeam STx platform
- Have witnessed the delivery of both SRS and SBRT plans to a patient, or in cases where this is not possible, to a phantom
- Know the relevant physics commissioning and routine QA procedures necessary to safely implement SRS/SBRT treatments
- Have had ample opportunity to ask questions of the local hosts at University of Alabama at Birmingham
NOTE: Technical product training on TrueBeam STx by Varian will not be included as part of this clinical school. Medical Physicists attending this course are expected to have already received product training on TrueBeam by attending Varian’s “TrueBeam Administration and Physics course” in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Select Course Documents
Payment Policy
Please provide payment to us within 60 days prior to the course you are planning to attend. The cost for an individual to attend is $5,000. The cost for a team of 3-4 attendees from one institution is $11,500. Payment is accepted via check (preferably) or wire transfer. Receipt of payment will reserve your slot for the course.
Please make checks payable to The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Send payment to:
Cancellation policy
We ask that you provide us with a 40-day notice should you wish to cancel. Cancellations should be in writing, via email, fax or mail to the attention of Valeria Glenn. Upon receipt of a notice to cancel within 40 days, we will work with you to reschedule. Cancellations received less than 40 days in advance will be subject to non-refunding of tuition and non-rescheduling of the course.
In the event UAB has to reschedule the course, we will work with you to reschedule at a later date.
Once scheduled for a course, there are no refunds of tuition.
Lodging
Courtyard by Marriott - Downtown
Telephone: 205.254.0004
Steps away from UAB. Attached to the Sky Lobby of the 4th Avenue Parking Deck and the North Pavilion.
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Marriott SpringHill Suites
Telephone: 205.322.8600
Miles from UAB: 0.4
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Residence Inn by Marriott – Downtown UAB
Telephone:205.732.9595
Miles from UAB: 0.5
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Renaissance Birmingham - Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa
Telephone:205.916.7677
Miles from UAB: 10.8
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The Westin Birmingham
Telephone:205.307.3600
Miles from UAB:1.8
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Have questions? Contact Valeria Glenn at vglenn@uabmc.edu.