I'm in a Canadian medical school and just want to know the situation in the US. From reading I understand that rad on is super competitive while in Canada it is the opposite. Spots are unfilled every year because they have more residents than jobs available. In fact, some residents transferred out of the program because of this issue. Is that the case in the US? Also, I am interested in Rad on, so after a Canadian training, is it possible to apply and practice in the US?
thanks.
Hey silverfish,
I'm just a med student, so this may not be entirely accurate or reflect other parts of the country. In my region, people are able to find Rad Onc jobs without much problems. Unlike other fields, Rad Onc is not concentrated, so it is more difficult to find a nice location even if you're willing to compromise on the salary. That being said, there are also less graduates compared to other fields, so your chances may be the same... you just don't have as much options. If graduates are flexible, they can probably find a job regionally without a problem. I don't know if Canadian Rad Onc residencies are ACGME accredited, but I've met people in other fields who do a fellowship in the US and work in academia for a while eventually become board certified (thought I'm not to sure about this).
I wonder why Rad Onc in Canada are unable to find jobs... does it have to do with the health care system more focused on primary/preventative care and more efficient use of the tax dollar for health care?