[Expectations and Challenges for Early-Career Academic Surgeons in Surgical Oncology]

Academic career development in surgical oncology in Germany faces multiple challenges. Young surgeons are confronted not only with high clinical workloads but also with a lack of structured support, funding opportunities, and transparent career pathways. At the same time, there is a strong interest in academic work and specialized training programs such as fellowships. The aim of this study was to assess the current state of training opportunities, interests, and needs of early-career surgeons in surgical oncology in order to derive targeted strategies to support their clinical and academic career development.

An online survey covering career planning, research interests, structural support, and training needs was developed and distributed via surgical societies and networks for young surgeons across Germany. The results were analyzed quantitatively.

A total of 191 individuals participated, with most working at university hospitals (45.1%) or tertiary care centers (28.0%). The main challenges reported were high clinical workload (82.4%) and lack of time for research (66.0%). A strong interest in specialized fellowships was expressed by 85.4% of respondents, particularly in colorectal, hepatobiliary, or pancreatic surgery. Mentorship (90.9%) and protected research time (77.6%) were deemed essential. Research interests primarily focused on clinical (81.5%) and surgical-technical research (62.3%). The establishment of topic-specific subgroups within a future Early Career Group (ECG)-such as clinical trials, robotics, or mentoring-was considered helpful by the majority.

The findings highlight a clear interest in academic engagement among young surgeons and the urgent need for structured support. However, current clinical working conditions often hinder active scientific involvement. The gap between motivation and structural limitations underlines the necessity for targeted measures in training, mentoring, and research support. Despite high motivation, young surgeons in Germany frequently lack sufficient support for pursuing an academic career.