Associate Consultant / Consultant / Senior Consultant

JOB PURPOSE

The Associate Consultant in Radiation Oncology at the National University Cancer Institute Singapore (NCIS), National University Hospital (NUH), is responsible for the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based radiation therapy to oncology patients. The role encompasses comprehensive clinical care across the full spectrum of radiation oncology, including consultation, treatment planning, treatment delivery oversight, on-treatment review, and survivorship care. The Associate Consultant is expected to develop subspecialty expertise within radiation oncology, provide clinical leadership to junior medical staff and allied health professionals, contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, and participate in clinical and translational research to advance the practice of radiation oncology within NCIS and NUHS.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES (90%)

• Provide comprehensive radiation oncology consultations, including patient assessment, staging, treatment intent determination, and informed consent, in accordance with institutional, NUH, and Ministry of Health (MOH) policies and guidelines.
• Formulate individualised radiation treatment plans in collaboration with medical physicists and dosimetrists, utilising advanced techniques including Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), brachytherapy, and adaptive radiotherapy.
• Perform accurate target volume delineation and critical organ-at-risk contouring using appropriate imaging modalities (CT, MRI, PET-CT) and contouring guidelines.
• Supervise and verify radiation treatment delivery, ensuring adherence to prescribed treatment parameters and radiation safety protocols in compliance with the Radiation Protection Act and institutional safety standards.
• Conduct regular on-treatment reviews, manage acute radiation toxicities, and coordinate supportive care in collaboration with the multidisciplinary cancer care team.
• Participate actively in multidisciplinary tumour boards (e.g., Head & Neck, Breast, Thoracic, GI, GU, CNS, Gynaecological, Paediatric) to formulate evidence-based, patient-centred treatment recommendations.
• Provide radiation oncology input for combined modality treatments, including concurrent chemoradiation, and collaborate closely with medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and other specialists within NCIS.
• Manage radiation oncology emergencies and provide on-call coverage as rostered by the Head of Department.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive clinical documentation in the electronic medical record system.
• Demonstrate and continuously develop subspecialty expertise within radiation oncology to attract referrals and strengthen NCIS's clinical capabilities in specific disease sites or techniques.
• Ensure compliance with radiation safety regulations, quality assurance protocols, and institutional clinical governance frameworks.
• Where serious or major clinical situations arise that may affect the well-being or lives of patients, inform and consult the Head, Department of Radiation Oncology, NCIS at the earliest opportunity.
• Be prepared to perform the duties of the next lower grade if necessary to ensure continuity of patient care.

B. TEACHING & TRAINING (5%)

• Contribute to the teaching and training of Registrars, Resident Physicians, medical students (NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine), and allied health professionals rotating through the Department of Radiation Oncology, NCIS.
• Participate in the NCIS Radiation Oncology residency training programme, including bedside teaching, case-based discussions, contouring workshops, and simulation-based training.
• Support the development of educational materials, e-learning resources, and continuing medical education (CME) activities within the department.
• Serve as a clinical supervisor and mentor to junior doctors, fostering a culture of professional development and lifelong learning.

C. RESEARCH & INNOVATION (5%)

• Establish and participate in clinical and translational research activities within the field of radiation oncology, collaborating with cross-disciplinary clinical and scientific partners where appropriate.
• Contribute to investigator-initiated trials, cooperative group studies, and institutional research programmes aligned with NCIS's research strategy.
• Seek competitive research funding through NMRC, MOH, and other grant agencies to support radiation oncology research within NCIS and NUHS.
• Ensure commitment to the ethical conduct of research, including adherence to institutional review board (IRB) requirements and responsible management of conflicts of interest.
• Contribute to the evaluation and adoption of novel radiation therapy technologies, including but not limited to artificial intelligence (AI) in treatment planning, adaptive radiotherapy, proton therapy, and FLASH radiotherapy.

ATTRIBUTES

EMBRACE THE NUHS MISSION AND UPHOLD AND DEMONSTRATE THE NUHS CORE VALUES

Teamwork

Radiation oncology care is inherently multidisciplinary, requiring seamless collaboration among radiation oncologists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists, oncology nurses, and allied health professionals. The Associate Consultant works cohesively within the NCIS multidisciplinary cancer care team, values and respects colleagues and service partners, and contributes actively to NUHS-wide activities. He/She implements team decisions, appreciates the diverse roles demanded of staff, functions effectively in a multiple reporting system, and engages and empowers team members to achieve shared patient outcomes.

Respect

The Associate Consultant demonstrates sensitivity to the needs, interests, and ideas of colleagues and patients, with a clear commitment to treating every individual with fairness and dignity. In the context of cancer care, where patients and families face significant emotional and physical burdens, the Associate Consultant encourages empathy and respect among all team members, helps others maximise their strengths, and supports colleagues in handling personal issues that may impact their work.

Integrity

The Associate Consultant upholds the highest standards of professional ethics and healthcare service ethos, remaining steadfast even when faced with clinical or ethical challenges inherent in oncology practice. He/She maintains adherence to organisational values, takes a stand when necessary, ensures high standards are not eroded over time, and inspires others to develop and raise existing standards of practice.

Compassion

The Associate Consultant seeks to understand each patient's attitudes, feelings, motivations, and needs, and takes steps to alleviate their concerns throughout the radiation treatment journey. He/She is committed to placing the patient first, delivers the best clinical care and service with passion, develops and maintains strong relationships with patients and team members, and creates an environment for healthy discussion and resolution of diverse views in the best interest of the patient and the organisation.

Excellence

The Associate Consultant applies specialist training, education, and technical expertise in radiation oncology to deliver the highest standard of patient care. He/She keeps abreast of new knowledge and skills in radiation oncology, practises continuous learning, views challenges as opportunities for improvement, builds contacts across NUHS to drive performance improvement, and stays updated on the latest developments in radiation therapy technology and cancer treatment.

POSSESS AND DEMONSTRATE THE NUHS LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

Embrace Change

The Associate Consultant is receptive to changes and new ideas in radiation oncology practice, including the adoption of new treatment technologies, AI-driven tools, and evolving clinical protocols. He/She identifies and addresses staff concerns to reduce resistance before implementing change, champions corporate change initiatives at the department level, and organises resources and retraining programmes to help staff manage change in the workplace.

Influence and Lead

The Associate Consultant mobilises others to achieve clinical and departmental goals by demonstrating decisiveness and leading by example. He/She influences decision-making that generates desired results, instils a sense of pride in NCIS and NUHS, and practises fairness without favouritism when dealing with staff.

Think Strategically

The Associate Consultant takes a proactive, broad-based, and long-term perspective on the department's clinical, educational, and research objectives within the context of NCIS's vision and NUHS's mission. He/She makes accurate projections about the potential of existing and new radiation oncology services, pursues long-term objectives despite pressure for short-term results, and reviews the impact of departmental strategies on both the department and the institution.

Develop Others

The Associate Consultant recognises the need to work through others and helps colleagues and trainees realise their optimal potential. He/She gives specific and constructive feedback for development purposes, expresses positive expectations for future performance, supports continuous learning, and fosters staff development aligned with institutional needs.