Oncology Training Programs Challenged By Need To Expand To Meet Future Workforce Demands

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 20 Mar 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released the results of a survey of medical oncology and hematology/oncology fellowship program directors, which found training programs have limited plans to increase the number of oncology training positions over the next five years.

ASCO surveyed 159 medical oncology and hematology/oncology program directors to determine how likely they were to increase the number of oncology training positions in their institutions in the next five years. Of the 124 who responded, only one in four said they planned to increase the number of oncology training slots from 2007 to 2013, and none had plans to increase the number of training slots by more than two positions. The survey results are being published in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of Oncology Practice.

"Although the overall quality of the applicant pool remains strong, there remain several barriers that could prevent additional increases in training positions," said Dean Bajorin, MD, Co-Chair of ASCO's Workforce Advisory Group, which is developing recommendations to increase the oncology workforce in light of an anticipated future shortage. "The most significant barriers seem to center on financial concerns, namely the availability of funding to support fellows and the cost of expansion."

In fact, of the program directors who said they were very likely or somewhat likely to increase the number of oncology training program slots at their institutions, one in four said that they did not know how they would fund the new positions.

Increasing the number of oncology training positions is a tactic in ASCO's strategic plan to address looming oncology workforce shortages. A 2007 ASCO study projected a significant shortage of medical and gynecologic oncologists in the United States by 2020, due to the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, an increase in the number of cancer survivors, and slower growth in the supply of oncologists.

"The projected oncology workforce shortage is partly due to the limited number of oncology training positions currently available," said Michael Goldstein, MD, Co-Chair of ASCO's Workforce Advisory Group. "ASCO will work with oncology programs to advocate for their expansion and support program directors in their efforts to train oncologists to practice in a time of shortage."

For more information on ASCO's workforce initiatives, visit http://www.asco.org/workforce.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world's leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer. With more than 27,000 members, ASCO is committed to improving cancer care through scientific meetings, educational programs and peer-reviewed journals. For ASCO information and resources, visit http://www.asco.org/presscenter. Patient-oriented cancer information is available at http://www.cancer.net.

Source
American Society of Clinical Oncology