We received many concerned emails, DM's, tweets, etc from #radonc residents over the past two years, and have closely followed the social media, SDN and twitter comments by trainees and recent graduates. We asked trainees a simple question via survey:
"What issue(s) concern you as future radiation oncologists?" We had answer choices but also free text options. Respondents could choose >1. An overwhelming majority were concerned with the job market (91%), ABR exams (85%), and residency expansion (84%).
So we dug into these three issues and looked for concrete data. There were a lot of opinions swirling around on social media, but we tried to find data to determine whether these opinions were supported.
1) Job Market: According to our 2016-2018 chief res surveys, results were split. ~50% of residents felt the job market was "much more competitive" or "slightly more competitive." Another 50% thought the market was "equally competitive"or "less competitive."
So there are jobs. We heard concerns about the LOCATIONS of these jobs, so we also pulled job board data with @ASTRO_org's help. You can see even without full data (obv not all jobs posted), there is an uneven distribution of locations.
So TL;DR version: There are jobs, but concerns with geographic distribution are likely accurate. Our recs as a committee to leadership below.
2) ABR Board Examinations: Our data supports that 2018 results were clearly different. This one mostly resolved itself between when we wrote this editorial (May 2019) and when it's been published. Read the other editorials in the same Red J issue for more.
Our recs to leadership with regards to board exams below. @ASTRO_org, @ARRO and ABR are working hard on these.
3) Residency Expansion. The data supports this one. The expansion of programs and opening of new programs is outpacing applying med students, inc. this year.
As a small specialty, we are much more prone to fluctuations than a larger specialty. Similarly, though, actions can have more immediate consequences. We propose programs holding residency expansion and/or contracting positions.
Full article here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ijro…. SCAROP response here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ijro…. @jennamkahn @ChelainG @AshleyAlbertMD @AnkitAgarwalMD @EJeansMD @ktye @ShaunaRadOnc @SamuelMarcromMD
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