If you hold it off-hours, will they come? Results from a feasibility project intended to stimulate interest in the physician-investigator career path among medical oncology trainees.
BACKGROUND
An "endangered species," the physician-scientist faces challenges in oncology. The authors thus implemented a series of voluntary off-hours sessions on academic development for their trainees.


METHODS
Numerous workday interruptions among trainees led the authors to conclude that off-hours sessions would be preferable. Thus, this feasibility project was conducted. All 34 trainees were invited to a session and were surveyed thereafter. An attendance rate of >or=34% was to be a "success."


RESULTS
Seventy percent of trainees attended, and over 90% said they would do so again. Write-in comments were mostly favorable.


CONCLUSIONS
Off-hours sessions to discuss academic career development are feasible among medical oncology trainees.
Tan
Tow S
TS
Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Walia
Tamana
T
Galanis
Eva
E
Goetz
Matthew P
MP
Rubin
Joseph
J
Jatoi
Aminah
A
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002321:Career Choice; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education*; D010820:Physicians / Q000639:trends*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012108:Research Personnel