ABIM Med Oncology study plan
ABIM Med Oncology · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Hematologic Malignancies
Map the WHO classification of myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms into a one-page decision tree from blast count to lineage
Rehearse diagnostic criteria for AML, APL, and ALL until you can recite them without notes
Build a spaced-repetition deck covering induction, consolidation, and maintenance regimens for acute leukemias
Solve 30 board-style questions on acute leukemia and log every miss with the underlying knowledge gap
Your checkpoint
A 2-page acute leukemia summary sheet plus a tagged Anki deck of 80 cards reviewed to at least 90% recall
Hematologic Malignancies
Differentiate risk-adapted therapy for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma by stage and biology
Explain the role of targeted agents in CLL and mantle cell lymphoma in a written paragraph each
Compare transplant eligibility criteria and graft-versus-host prophylaxis across autologous and allogeneic settings
Complete 40 mixed hematology questions and categorize errors by domain
Your checkpoint
A lymphoma and CLL comparison table with 10 rows and a written error log of at least 15 items
Breast Cancer
Stratify early and metastatic breast cancer by subtype and stage and match each to guideline-concordant therapy
Diagram the biomarker workflow for ER, PR, HER2, and germline testing and where each changes management
Practice interpreting a de-identified pathology report into a treatment recommendation
Answer 40 breast cancer questions and annotate each rationale
Your checkpoint
A one-page subtype-to-treatment algorithm plus a 40-question performance summary with percent correct by subtype
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Sequence systemic therapy for colorectal cancer by line of treatment and molecular profile
Distinguish resectable from unresectable hepatobiliary and pancreatic disease and state the corresponding intent of therapy
Summarize gastric and esophageal cancer biomarker-driven options in a comparison grid
Work through 40 GI questions and rewrite every incorrect rationale in your own words
Your checkpoint
A GI cancer treatment grid covering 8 scenarios plus a rewritten rationale for every missed question
Thoracic and Head/Neck Cancers
Match NSCLC targeted therapy to driver alterations and list resistance mechanisms for each
Outline the immunotherapy decision pathway for NSCLC by PD-L1 status and stage
Summarize head and neck cancer management by subsite and HPV status
Complete 35 thoracic and head/neck questions with timed conditions
Your checkpoint
A driver-alteration-to-drug table with resistance notes and a timed 35-question score report
Genitourinary Cancers & Gynecologic and Other Solid Tumors
Build a stage-by-stage treatment map for prostate, renal, and urothelial cancers
Compare frontline and subsequent-line therapy for ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancers
Identify germline and somatic testing triggers across GU and gynecologic tumors
Answer 40 combined GU and GYN questions and tag each to a domain
Your checkpoint
Two one-page treatment maps (GU and GYN) plus a 40-question tagged results sheet
Cancer Biology, Genetics, and Precision Oncology & Diagnostic Oncology and Pathology & Antineoplastic Therapy and Supportive Care
Explain oncogene addiction, synthetic lethality, and tumor-agnostic approvals with a clinical example of each
Interpret immunohistochemistry, molecular, and cytogenetic results into a diagnosis and therapy choice
Manage febrile neutropenia, tumor lysis syndrome, and immune-related adverse events using published grading scales
Complete 45 questions across these three domains and log error patterns
Your checkpoint
A supportive-care quick-reference card for four oncologic emergencies plus a 45-question error-pattern analysis
Survivorship, Palliative Care, and Ethics & Breast Cancer & Hematologic Malignancies
Apply goals-of-care and capacity frameworks to three written ethics vignettes
Review survivorship plans for cardiotoxicity, fertility, and secondary malignancy surveillance
Re-drill the highest-yield misses from weeks 1 through 7 using spaced repetition
Complete one full-length timed practice exam and debrief every section
Your checkpoint
A full-length practice exam score report with a prioritized remediation list of no more than 10 items
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 70% on a 40-question hematology set and have reviewed every missed item
Week 4: Complete the breast and GI algorithm deliverables and score at least 65% on each domain's question set
Week 6: All five solid-tumor treatment maps are finished and combined practice accuracy is at least 70%
Week 8: Full-length practice exam completed under timed conditions with a written remediation list of 10 or fewer items