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Radiation Oncology Workforce: Supply and Demand

Arya Amini1, Join Y Luh2, Aaron Bush3

  • 1ACR Radiation Oncology Education Committee Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California.

Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR
|February 1, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Radiation oncology faces declining residency applicants due to job concerns, exam pass rates, and lack of medical school exposure. Solutions are proposed to ensure a future workforce in this vital medical field.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Education
  • Oncology
  • Health Workforce Studies

Background:

  • Radiation oncology has seen a continuous decline in residency applicants since 2017.
  • This trend has led to a significant number of unfilled positions in radiation oncology residencies.
  • Multiple factors contribute to this decline, impacting the specialty's future workforce.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the multifactorial causes behind the decreasing number of radiation oncology residency applicants.
  • To explore lessons learned from diagnostic radiology and other medical specialties facing similar challenges.
  • To propose actionable solutions for improving recruitment and ensuring a diverse workforce in radiation oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of trends in radiation oncology residency applications and unmatched positions.
  • Analysis of cited factors including job market concerns, board examination pass rates, and medical student exposure.
  • Comparative analysis with experiences in diagnostic radiology and other medical specialties.

Main Results:

  • Radiation oncology residency applications have declined for five consecutive years.
  • Key contributing factors include concerns about future employment, lower pass rates on radiation biology and physics board exams (2018), and insufficient early exposure in medical school.
  • The field faces challenges in attracting and retaining a sufficient number of trainees.

Conclusions:

  • Addressing the decline in radiation oncology residency applicants requires a multifaceted approach.
  • Learning from other specialties' experiences can inform effective strategies.
  • Implementing proposed solutions is crucial for securing a robust and diverse future workforce to meet patient needs.
Keywords:
Radiation oncologyresidencyworkforce

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