Too many Rad Onc spots in the match?

[AlexanderJ]

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2002 match 83 spots
2003 match 107 spots
2004 match 117 spots

Is this a good or a bad trend? I know we want as many good people to get into the field as possible. However, when I am done with residency I would like to get a good job too. The job market is great now, but if we keep increasing the number of rad onc spots in the match, the supply of radiation oncologists could outweigh the demand. Perhaps we should urge the "powers that be" (whoever they are) to stop this trend. What does everyone think?

 

[cancer_doc]

this trend might be a little skewed. Back in 2002, a few number of programs still were not participating in the match. Now, almost all programs are in it, so the actual numbers might roughly be the same. I'm not sure of the exact numbers, however.

 

[stephew]

Originally posted by AlexanderJ
2002 match 83 spots
2003 match 107 spots
2004 match 117 spots

Is this a good or a bad trend? I know we want as many good people to get into the field as possible. However, when I am done with residency I would like to get a good job too. The job market is great now, but if we keep increasing the number of rad onc spots in the match, the supply of radiation oncologists could outweigh the demand. Perhaps we should urge the "powers that be" (whoever they are) to stop this trend. What does everyone think?

b ugger my reply did post- essentially there was a very flawed report predicting a deluge of radonc docs so spots were cut. Woops they were wrong so now they're re-exapanding.
steph

 

[MacGyver]

Hospitals dont add residency slots because they studied the job market for rad oncs. They add slots because they want the Medicare dollars that come with it.

Lets face it, if it werent for the professional associations and the AMA, ACGME, etc there would be 1,000 rad onc slots. Hospitals want as many residents as they can possibly get. Residency slots are a huge cash cow for hospitals.

 

[IndyXRT]

The impression I get from talking to the staff at my (future) program is that there is currently a shortage of Rad Onc docs, and it is only going to get worse, as many of the current ones are near retirement age. I don't think any of us will have trouble finding a job.

 

[Thaiger75]

I think that the numbers may fluctuate slightly from year to year. The number of programs that go outside the match remain pretty consistent I think year to year and I don't think that many spots have been added recently. Some years may have more spots due to the staggeredness of available residency positions in some years (some programs may not be offering any spots, etc). This year might just reflect that majority of programs happened to be offering spots.

The only 2 places that I know of that will significantly add to the total numbers in the future are MDACC and MGH...I believe MDACC would like to eventually have 7/year.

 

[pikachu]

do you guys think the demand will go up with increasing cancer prevalence as the population ages? baby boomers are starting to get into their 50's now so my (uneducated) guess would be a big spike in cancer cases in the next few decades.

 

[jbernar1]

137 spots this year!

 

[user_name]

I disagree that there are not any new spots, just more in the match. My home program doubled their positions recently. The program I did an away rotation at had added 2 new residents in the last 2-3 years. I know at least two to three programs I interviewed at were actively petitioning the ACGME for extra spots. I know one of those got it because they sent the chief an email looking to add a resident. Also, the chief got an email stating a completely new program is starting this summer and was looking for residents PGY2-5; they have a total of 6 alotments, which is more than several well-established programs. Both of these emails appeared to be looking for current rad onc residents looking to transfer or applicants with a PGY1 already under their belt. They most likely won't appear in the match for a year or two.

All of this being said, should we get worked up about the job market already? Most of us were unsure if we would even get into the field only 30 hrs ago, and almost none of us know where we will actually be. Most people in their interviews stated (lied?) that they wanted an academic career. These people should be begging for more residency spots so that there are more academic jobs. If you plan to pursue a private practice career, fear Medicare ten times more than you do future colleagues. Medicare will set the future income as the Baby Boomers age. Just enjoy your good fortune to have a spot for now; you can figure out how to afford that Aspen ski chalet in ten years!

 

[radonc]

I disagree that there are not any new spots, just more in the match. My home program doubled their positions recently. The program I did an away rotation at had added 2 new residents in the last 2-3 years. I know at least two to three programs I interviewed at were actively petitioning the ACGME for extra spots. I know one of those got it because they sent the chief an email looking to add a resident. Also, the chief got an email stating a completely new program is starting this summer and was looking for residents PGY2-5; they have a total of 6 alotments, which is more than several well-established programs. Both of these emails appeared to be looking for current rad onc residents looking to transfer or applicants with a PGY1 already under their belt. They most likely won't appear in the match for a year or two.

All of this being said, should we get worked up about the job market already? Most of us were unsure if we would even get into the field only 30 hrs ago, and almost none of us know where we will actually be. Most people in their interviews stated (lied?) that they wanted an academic career. These people should be begging for more residency spots so that there are more academic jobs. If you plan to pursue a private practice career, fear Medicare ten times more than you do future colleagues. Medicare will set the future income as the Baby Boomers age. Just enjoy your good fortune to have a spot for now; you can figure out how to afford that Aspen ski chalet in ten years!

User_name, that program you are talking about is a brand new program, not an existing program that is expanding. to start off at 6 residents is big, but they have 10 attendings, 6 biologists, and 6 physicists. their NIH funding is ranked #10 out of all the radonc programs in the country.

 

[user_name]

User_name, that program you are talking about is a brand new program, not an existing program that is expanding. to start off at 6 residents is big, but they have 10 attendings, 6 biologists, and 6 physicists. their NIH funding is ranked #10 out of all the radonc programs in the country.

I agree that it is brand new. I apologize if it was unclear. My point was and is that the extra spots have nothing to do with more spots listed in the match but the same overall number as stated below. These spots are truly additional spots not previously available in any form. I also did not mean to imply the new program wouldn't be any good. I just thought it was interesting that a new program would be granted such a large amount. 6 is more than Michigan, UNC that are well-respected and same number as Wake Forest that gets lots of good press currently.

 

[stephew]

there are more spots not just more in the match.