Academic career selection and retention in radiation oncology: the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy experience.
OBJECTIVE
The United States healthcare system has witnessed declining reimbursement and increasing documentation requirements for longer than 10 years. These have decreased the time available to academic faculty for teaching and mentorship. The impact of these changes on the career choices of residents is unknown. The purpose of this report was to determine whether changes have occurred during the past decade in the proportion of radiation oncology trainees from a single institution entering and staying in academic medicine.


METHODS
We performed a review of the resident employment experience of Harvard Joint Center for Radiation Therapy residents graduating during 13 recent consecutive years (n = 48 residents). The outcomes analyzed were the initial selection of an academic vs. nonacademic career and career changes during the first 3 years after graduation.


RESULTS
Of the 48 residents, 65% pursued an academic career immediately after graduation, and 44% remained in academics at the last follow-up, after a median of 6 years. A later graduation year was associated with a decrease in the proportion of graduates immediately entering academic medicine (odds ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.94). However, the retention rate at 3 years of those who did immediately enter academics increased with a later graduation year (p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
During a period marked by notable changes in the academic healthcare environment, the proportion of graduating Harvard Joint Center for Radiation Therapy residents pursuing academic careers has been declining; however, despite this decline, the retention rates in academia have increased.
Balboni
Tracy A
TA
Harvard Radiation Oncology Residency Program, Boston, MA 02115, USA. tbalboni@partners.org
Chen
Ming-Hui
MH
Harris
Jay R
JR
Recht
Abram
A
Stevenson
Mary Ann
MA
D'Amico
Anthony V
AV
D002321:Career Choice; D002322:Career Mobility; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013663:Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States