The Fletcher-Cox Pathway: A Unique View on Clinical Trial Education
Shalini Moningi1, Shane Stecklein2, Sonal Noticewala3
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Advances in Radiation Oncology
|November 11, 2024
Summary
Radiation oncology trainees now have a formal pathway for clinical trial education and mentorship. This structured program equips residents with essential skills for designing and implementing trials, fostering future leaders in the field.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Radiation Oncology
- Clinical Trial Design
Background:
- Radiation oncology (RO) residency programs currently lack formal training in clinical trial design, creation, writing, and implementation.
- Existing training primarily focuses on informal methods and analyzing completed trials.
- There is a recognized need for structured educational pathways to develop clinical trialists within RO.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish and evaluate a formal, longitudinal training and mentorship program for radiation oncology trainees focused on clinical trial development.
- To provide residents with comprehensive education in clinical trial design, mentorship, and implementation.
- To equip future academic physicians and leaders in radiation oncology with essential clinical trial expertise.
Main Methods:
- Development of the "Fletcher-Cox Pathway," a pilot clinical trial training program, initiated in 2018 at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
- Residents in the pathway design and submit clinical trials for Institutional Review Board (IRB) review under principal investigator guidance.
- The program was offered as a standard option following a positive trainee response, with participation from 4 out of 7 incoming residents in 2019.
Main Results:
- The pilot program demonstrated successful trainee engagement and positive reception from both residents and mentors.
- Participating residents received training in clinical trial design and mentorship for their trial ideas.
- Ongoing studies within the program are actively accruing patients, indicating successful implementation and progress.
Conclusions:
- The structured "Fletcher-Cox Pathway" successfully addresses a critical need for formal clinical trial education in radiation oncology.
- The program's success suggests a model for adoption at a national level to enhance clinical trialist training and foster collaboration.
- Expansion of such educational pathways can cultivate a robust clinical trial community with shared resources and improved educational initiatives.
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