Radiation Oncology or Medical Physics: Anyone have any valuable insight on this?

[OhYoiYoi]

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This is my first post on this forum so if it belongs elsewhere, please let me know and excuse my ignorance.

I'm about to finish a master's degree in physics, specifically nuclear physics is my concentration.
I've thought about applying to medical school and go the route for radian oncology or radiology, but I've also researched a bit in other closely related fields, especially medical physics and nuclear medicine.
If anyone here is in one of these fields, I'd love to hear your opinions.

 

[MyOdyssey]

Good question. I hope that someone more knowledgeable than I attempts to answer it.

I suggest looking at job requirements for medical physics positions at major cancer centers.

You might also consider posting on the subforum for medical students that can be found on this forum.

 

[allantois]

Radiation oncology has a tough job market and is extremely hard to match into. If you aren’t interested in medicine in general, I can’t imagine this being a good route. Ask yourself whether you just like the physics part or whether you want to be a physician

 

[MyOdyssey]

Radiation oncology has a tough job market and is extremely hard to match into. If you aren’t interested in medicine in general, I can’t imagine this being a good route. Ask yourself whether you just like the physics part or whether you want to be a physician

How long and why has this been the case?

Which cancer related specialties enjoy a strong job market?

 

[allantois]

How long and why has this been the case?

Which cancer related specialties enjoy a strong job market?

Rad onc subforum could be a good place to start. For example:

Radiation Oncology is not the best field in medicine.

The field is sick. Many in our leadership refuse to admit it, but those of us who look - We see. I’ll try to be brief. I’m another recent grad. I did not have a job lined up until I was within 1 month of graduation. I did everything I was supposed to do: networking, several publications...

forums.studentdoctor.net

I believe all other specialties are in high demand, save for rad onc and path

 

[Engrailed]

How long and why has this been the case?

Which cancer related specialties enjoy a strong job market?

Also curious

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

How long and why has this been the case?

Which cancer related specialties enjoy a strong job market?

You can find more info on the subforum, but basically expansion of residency spots + no expansion of jobs = poor job market.

 

[907914]

You can find more info on the subforum, but basically expansion of residency spots + no expansion of jobs = poor job market.

So basically the same reason why pre-pharmacy is on Fire.

 

[Newallo1]

This is my first post on this forum so if it belongs elsewhere, please let me know and excuse my ignorance.

I'm about to finish a master's degree in physics, specifically nuclear physics is my concentration.
I've thought about applying to medical school and go the route for radian oncology or radiology, but I've also researched a bit in other closely related fields, especially medical physics and nuclear medicine.
If anyone here is in one of these fields, I'd love to hear your opinions.

Nuclear medicine resident here! I love it. With the growth of theranostics, our field is changing. The job market was a little scary but is finally picking up for straight nuclear physicians. My job is a combination of physics, chemistry and imaging. Radiology is primarily anatomy while nuclear medicine is pathophysiology. People go through multiple tracks. Some stick with straight nucs and finish a 1 yr fellowship in PET/Theranostics, some don't finish nucs residency and go to radiology residency or they finish nucs (3 years) then go to radiology residency (3-4 years). There's also the nuclear radiology track: dual board program NM and DR or 4 yrs radiology residency + 1 year of nucs fellowship.

It's a really cool, evolving field. ☢❤