Practicing Rad Onc Abroad

[Maforce]

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The question goes out to all the American board certified radiation oncologists (either American expats or IMG trained in the U.S.) who have practiced outside of U.S. What's been your experience practicing abroad? Specifically, India and China have seen tremendous advances in rad onc technologies. The amount of Elekta Linacs sold to India doubled in the past 7 years. Varian has taken a chunk of China's market. With ever enlarging and aging population in these countries, more patients are being diagnosed with cancer. So, if you have ever practiced abroad, please tell us your experience. Appreciate your input.

 

[radiadouken]

I'm interested in this too- any experiences?

 

[Sheldor]

The question goes out to all the American board certified radiation oncologists (either American expats or IMG trained in the U.S.) who have practiced outside of U.S. What's been your experience practicing abroad? Specifically, India and China have seen tremendous advances in rad onc technologies. The amount of Elekta Linacs sold to India doubled in the past 7 years. Varian has taken a chunk of China's market. With ever enlarging and aging population in these countries, more patients are being diagnosed with cancer. So, if you have ever practiced abroad, please tell us your experience. Appreciate your input.

I was hoping for some first hand accounts of this as well, but it seems that if these Rad Oncs are out there they aren't on SDN. I did want to say that one of the upper classmen when I was a junior medical student went to India for a month and worked in a cancer hospital. He was going into pediatrics, so he worked with the medical oncologists primarily. However, when he got back we talked about his trip and he was telling me that the Rad Oncs at this hospital were vastly overworked. He said often times, if an american doctor wants to serve, one of the things they can do is go and take over the practice for a month to give the physicians respite, and that based on his conversations that had happened with the Rad Onc there.

Sorry its so anecdotal and third hand, but I took it as encouragement that it can actually happen!

 

[Palex80]

However, when he got back we talked about his trip and he was telling me that the Rad Oncs at this hospital were vastly overworked. He said often times, if an american doctor wants to serve, one of the things they can do is go and take over the practice for a month to give the physicians respite, and that based on his conversations that had happened with the Rad Onc there.

Personally I don't think that's so easy.Imagine having to perform 2D-treatment planning, treat with cobalt machines and other stuff you have very little or no experience with. Do you think you would be able to cope with such a workload?


Forget about GTV, CTV, PTV. You just setup the fields on the xray and then have to look up in some table how long you are supposed to leave the patient under the open collimator of the cobalt machine.
I don't have a clue, how brachytherapy is practiced in some parts of the developing world. Perhaps radium treatment is still popular in some places?

 

[Gfunk6]

One of my friends practiced abroad at one of the "American" universities. This is a specifically branded educational institution that is located around the world, though most prominently in the Middle East I believe.

The main benefit of going this route is that your American credentials (training, board certification, medical license) are all recognized, your colleagues are largely American-trained, and there is good infrastructure (equipment, interpretive services). You can simultaneously reap the benefit of living/practicing abroad while practicing medicine like you would in the US.

If you go outside this route, you will have to carefully explore how licensure/board certification works in your country of interest.

 

[Gfunk6]

Personally I don't think that's so easy.Imagine having to perform 2D-treatment planning, treat with cobalt machines and other stuff you have very little or no experience with. Do you think you would be able to cope with such a workload?

I think this is an important point. If you go do a really underserved country then much of your training will be irrelevant and there will be a very steep learning curve. On the other hand, you will not face the same level of litigiousness as in the US.

 

[Maforce]

One of my friends practiced abroad at one of the "American" universities. This is a specifically branded educational institution that is located around the world, though most prominently in the Middle East I believe.

The main benefit of going this route is that your American credentials (training, board certification, medical license) are all recognized, your colleagues are largely American-trained, and there is good infrastructure (equipment, interpretive services). You can simultaneously reap the benefit of living/practicing abroad while practicing medicine like you would in the US.

If you go outside this route, you will have to carefully explore how licensure/board certification works in your country of interest.

Thanks for the info on the "American" universities. I know some U.S. universities have already established satellites in China in other specialities (ex Columbia in Chang Sha, Florida in Shanghai via Fudan). Are you aware of any Univ. setting up rad onc satellites in China. I know Fudan is trying to get a proton facility ready by 2016. Also, heard Pittsburgh is attempting to expand to China. Any thoughts?

 

[Gfunk6]

Thanks for the info on the "American" universities. I know some U.S. universities have already established satellites in China in other specialities (ex Columbia in Chang Sha, Florida in Shanghai via Fudan). Are you aware of any Univ. setting up rad onc satellites in China. I know Fudan is trying to get a proton facility ready by 2016. Also, heard Pittsburgh is attempting to expand to China. Any thoughts?

Other than what I cited above, I'm not aware of any other international expansion plans. However, as I wrote, you would do well to hook up with big American cancer centers that expand internationally rather than trying to go to a true foreign cancer center.