The Clinical Oncology Career Development Award of the American Cancer Society. A 5-year evaluation.
BACKGROUND
In 1985, the American Cancer Society (ACS) replaced their Junior Faculty Clinical Oncology Program with the 3-year Clinical Oncology Career Development Award (COCDA). It was proposed that the longer duration and larger stipend of the COCDA would have a greater impact in encouraging promising young clinical oncologists to enter and remain in academic oncology. The COCDA was evaluated at this time to determine whether these goals had been achieved.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to 104 of the total of 121 people who received awards in 1985, 1986, and 1987.


RESULTS
A review of the 85 completed questionnaires showed that the COCDA had a significant impact on the recipients. Most have remained in academic settings and have flourished, as evidenced by their publication record and success in obtaining extramural funds, despite their clinical orientation.


CONCLUSIONS
The COCDA has achieved its initial goals and will remain an important part of the professional education efforts of the ACS.
Greenberg
B R
BR
Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030.
Krawiec
V
V
Sawyer
K A
KA
Wilson
J L
JL
D001319:Authorship; D001363:Awards and Prizes; D002321:Career Choice; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors; D014146:Training Support