Radiation Oncology Resident Numbers Drop

[thecarbonionangle]

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Members do not see this ad.

"Lower quality applicants" unfortunately means lower professionalism. I trained long enough to remember stories about residents literally washing their socks in the staff bathroom instead of attending port conference

not just that but it erodes our competence in the eyes of other doctors now that field is least desirable and anybody with a pulse walks in, multiple criminal things no problem! this will eventually translate to lower quality.
As if we needed to be respected even less.

 

[thesauce]

SIMUL IS IN! Who can run point on this? New thread?

 

[Mandelin Rain]

Protons: not just about value... it's about SAVING LIVES. Thirstiness.

Well it sure ain't protons. Travel with me back in time to 2000. You have a linac. You are a community practice place. Your linac has MLCs. You hear about this thing called "IMRT." Varian tells you it simply requires an upgrade to the planning system and a small upgrade to the machine. That's part of why IMRT could become IMRT. This is a hill impossible for protons, or any very expensive/logistically challenging tech for that matter, to climb.

My main take away from this thread is that Mark Storey ripped off NEJM’s font and design to make people confused about his blog.

 

[Mandelin Rain]

“Sure we have no peer reviewed clinical data based on standard outcomes showing benefit to protons, but we do present pretty pictures on a blog post that looks like the NEJM website.”

 

[medgator]

"Lower quality applicants" unfortunately means lower professionalism. I trained long enough to remember stories about residents literally washing their socks in the staff bathroom instead of attending port conference

Heard that happened at one of the pitt programs... Allegheny? This specialty definitely had its share of misfits and weirdos back in the day

 

[DoctwoB]

"Lower quality applicants" unfortunately means lower professionalism. I trained long enough to remember stories about residents literally washing their socks in the staff bathroom instead of attending port conference

What does one do with a pile of wet socks in a hospital?

 

[thecarbonionangle]

If you thought some rad oncs are weird af, just wait until the new crops arrive in the next few years. That will be very interesting!

 

[RadOncMegatron]

My main take away from this thread is that Mark Storey ripped off NEJM’s font and design to make people confused about his blog.

OMG I did get confused for a minute and thought "IS THIS NEJM?" LOL

 

[RickyScott]

My main take away from this thread is that Mark Storey ripped off NEJM’s font and design to make people confused about his blog.

What is the range uncertainty with protons- ie how many mm extra margin do you have to place?

 

[SubserviantToABR]

SIMUL IS IN! Who can run point on this? New thread?

I too will rejoin ASTRO and vote for Simul!

 

[AZpath]

You folks understand the problem and know the answer.
Pathology has had the same problem for years.
We vent and complaint on SND.
I go to to society meetings and never saw concerned a group of young pathologists protesting.
Perhaps pathologists are too wimpy to be visible.

Those most effected by the job market need to be organized politically.
You can show them the facts and they will ignore you. The status quo benefits too many.
How are you going to be effective? Continue to complain ?

Quit ASTRO? Maybe.
You would have to have almost all residents quit to send a message.
Likewise forming another professional group might send a firm message that ASTRO has no future on it is current path.
Essentially a well organized boycott is one method to have an impact

 

[elementaryschooleconomics]

Reading the bylaws, it appears ASTRO defines "active" (and therefore, able to vote) members as being board-certified, correct? So that would preclude residents and junior attendings who have yet to finish the board certification process from voting for this, unless I'm misunderstanding the rules.

I'll gladly talk to folks I know who have "active" membership, but if there's another avenue those of us with other statuses can take, I'd be game for that, too.

 

[elementaryschooleconomics]

Ah OK, read a little deeper - people who have graduated but are not board certified are "affiliate", and it appears that "affiliate" members have voting power.

So, there's about 200 of us about to be eligible for affiliate status in ~2 months...I'm 100% on board with this.

 

[StIGMA]

I think that’s right about the time the rules are going to change.

 

[RadOncDoc21]

What if none of those 200 become ASTRO members? I think that would make more of an (financial) impact.

 

[deleted898021]

Congratulations SDN, good to know that the cries to curb residency expansion has done very little. Except scare off the AMGs and dilute the field with FMGs and DOs and such.

LOL bruh no DO wants to go into Rad onc LOL.... also DO= AMG post merger... uhhh, I can see the field being completely diluted with FMG's who will match into anything to get a visa here though..

 

[RickyScott]

LOL bruh no DO wants to go into Rad onc LOL.... also DO= AMG post merger... uhhh, I can see the field being completely diluted with FMG's who will match into anything to get a visa here though..

I can see a dumb or complexed DO viewing this specialty as a means of matching at an elite institution (and then trying to convince themselves that everything will fall into place career wise thereafter)

 

[deleted898021]

I can see a dumb or complexed DO viewing this specialty as a means of matching at an elite institution (and then trying to convince themselves that everything will fall into place career wise thereafter)

lol nah… based on the numbers in soap and unmatched DO’s, that number is probably 0 or something I can count on my fingers. We are actively told by our faculty and advising to avoid rad onc because there won’t be a job for you even if you go to an “elite” institution

 

[medgator]

lol nah… based on the numbers in soap and unmatched DO’s, that number is probably 0 or something I can count on my fingers. We are actively told by our faculty and advising to avoid rad onc because there won’t be a job for you even if you go to an “elite” institution

Right now there are jobs in el dorado, AR, Kearney NE and Flint, MI. Imagine what geographic offerings we'll have in a few years!

 

[Burt Radnolds]

lol nah… based on the numbers in soap and unmatched DO’s, that number is probably 0 or something I can count on my fingers. We are actively told by our faculty and advising to avoid rad onc because there won’t be a job for you even if you go to an “elite” institution

Congratulations, you have excellent mentorship!

 

[deleted898021]

Congratulations, you have excellent mentorship!

Our dean straight up said the same thing to our entire class about EM as well… because it’s headed down the same path..

 

[Ray D. Ayshun]

Don’t forget that the jobs in Kearney and El Dorado in 2021 are advertised at a time of record highs in job listings and market expansion for most everything ex-rad onc.

I honestly don't understand the el dorado ad. This is for two years from now. If there's a pgy4 that wants to be there, they're already emailing you. Otherwise, if you're hiring a current attending, they'll be happy to have this in their back pocket to negotiate elsewhere.

 

[medgator]

I honestly don't understand the el dorado ad. This is for two years from now. If there's a pgy4 that wants to be there, they're already emailing you. Otherwise, if you're hiring a current attending, they'll be happy to have this in their back pocket to negotiate elsewhere.

People aren't ready for microwaveable biryani via 2-day prime?

 

[Ray D. Ayshun]

People aren't ready for microwaveable biryani via 2-day prime?

As has been said, seems like a great group. Otoh, hiring for a position 2 years out only makes sense if the applicant contacts you with a reason to be there. I'm sure the stipend to current resident disincentivizes backing out, but this seems a little premature.

 

[medgator]

Right now there are jobs in el dorado, AR, Kearney NE and Flint, MI. Imagine what geographic offerings we'll have in a few years!

Can add Fergus falls MN, Chambersburg PA and New Albany IN to that list

 

[RSAOaky]

Right now there are jobs in el dorado, AR, Kearney NE and Flint, MI. Imagine what geographic offerings we'll have in a few years!

I guess lead infested water doesn't sound so bad when you grew up worrying about e. coli and parasites...

 

[thecarbonionangle]

I guess lead infested water doesn't sound so bad when you grew up worrying about e. coli and parasites...

Come to the beautiful pastures of flint michigan and jump start your career. Have children? Did you know the water is infested with iq lowering lead? No problem! Great place to raise a family! Bottle water on us! Come smart, leave just a bit dumber. In a few years when the soap classes hit, they will come dumb and leave…. Well you know the thing.