Too Many Radiation Oncologists

[SleepyGator888]

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I've been talking to a number of residents about pursuing radiation oncology as a career. One pointed me to this article saying if I want to live in a desirable area, it might not be the best field. What do the SDNers think?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23391815

I'm not sure if this has already been discussed. If so please link me to the discussion.

 

[Gfunk6]

That particular article was discussed at length in this thread.

 

[Reaganite]

If you want to work in so cal, forget it...or be willing to be someone's bitc$. (I.e. I know of a recent position offering 180k with no benefits and an average of 40 to 50 pts on treatment)

 

[medgator]

If you want to work in so cal, forget it...or be willing to be someone's bitc$. (I.e. I know of a recent position offering 180k with no benefits and an average of 40 to 50 pts on treatment)

Wow. Have also heard it's rough in Chicago, No Cal, and the more desirable NE cities. It's even more of a double whammy when you consider the increased COL in those areas

 

[Scatter]

If you want to work in so cal, forget it...or be willing to be someone's bitc$. (I.e. I know of a recent position offering 180k with no benefits and an average of 40 to 50 pts on treatment)

"Radiation oncologists eat their young ..."

 

[CyberKnife19]

Wow. Have also heard it's rough in Chicago, No Cal, and the more desirable NE cities. It's even more of a double whammy when you consider the increased COL in those areas

I think the ability to obtain a job in the aforementioned cities is multifactorial and includes the quality of the training program, the quality of the resident and timing. In the past two years, two of our residents joined the premier group in Chicago and another resident joined a group in L.A., so it is definitely possible. Best of luck.

 

[Reaganite]

I think the ability to obtain a job in the aforementioned cities is multifactorial and includes the quality of the training program, the quality of the resident and timing. In the past two years, two of our residents joined the premier group in Chicago and another resident joined a group in L.A., so it is definitely possible. Best of luck.

This post illustrates another good point about desirable areas...I believe I know about that LA group...they just let several new hires go.

 

[medgator]

I think the ability to obtain a job in the aforementioned cities is multifactorial and includes the quality of the training program, the quality of the resident and timing. In the past two years, two of our residents joined the premier group in Chicago and another resident joined a group in L.A., so it is definitely possible. Best of luck.

This post illustrates another good point about desirable areas...I believe I know about that LA group...they just let several new hires go.

Yup. The dreaded "revolving door" practices. Notorious also in fl

 

[Gfunk6]

Whenever you are seriously considering joining a practice, a mandatory question should be, "how many associates have you hired in a partnership-track but did not make partner? Could you please give me their contact information?"

If there is hesitation to give you either piece of information, move on.

 

[OTN]

If you HAVE to live in a certain area, Radonc ain't for you. It's not that there are "too many grads" necessarily (that may or not be the case, depending on whom you ask), it's that there really aren't that many of us to begin with. It's a small field, so the ability to place yourself in a certain location geographically is very limited as well.

 

[ramsesthenice]

If you HAVE to live in a certain area, Radonc ain't for you. It's not that there are "too many grads" necessarily (that may or not be the case, depending on whom you ask), it's that there really aren't that many of us to begin with. It's a small field, so the ability to place yourself in a certain location geographically is very limited as well.

True. I don't disagree with you at all. But this doesn't just apply to Rad Onc. Good jobs in desirable locations will be competative in ANY specialty. Bigger specialties make it more likely you will get a job in one of those places, but do keep in mind not all jobs are created equal and what you may be asked to do can come at a premium...

 

[OTN]

True. I don't disagree with you at all. But this doesn't just apply to Rad Onc. Good jobs in desirable locations will be competative in ANY specialty. Bigger specialties make it more likely you will get a job in one of those places, but do keep in mind not all jobs are created equal and what you may be asked to do can come at a premium...

True, true. I wasn't trying to imply this was exclusive to radonc, but it is an issue in our field. Most likely the same in any small specialty I agree.