What is the path to becoming an Oncologist?

[Saleemrodman1]

So I am on my way to an Osteopathic Medical School and am very interested in Oncology/Hematology in one of my potential specialties/subspecialties. I know the general path to becoming an Oncologist, but I just want some clarifications. This is what I picture so far, but I think I'm making a few errors. Could someone clarify?


Medical School (4 years) / take USMLE Step 1 and 2 in addition to COMLEX
Internship (1 year)
Residency (4 years for Oncology) (PAID)
Take USMLE step 3
Fellowship (1 year) ? (PAID) if doing a sub=specialty like Hematology?

Also, what is a PGY exactly? Is that a fellowship? Are fellowships paid?

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[workaholic181]

PGY just means post grad year and can refer to basically how long you’ve been out of med school. So a surgical resident in his fourth year is a PGY4, for example.

You’ve basically got the right idea. You want to match into a solid academic internal medicine residency to have a shot at heme/onc. Heme/onc isn’t terribly competitive but coming from an academic center (preferably one with its own heme/onc fellowship program) will make it a lot easier. Taking both comlex and usmle will make matching an academic IM program more likely.

And yes you are paid during a fellowship.

 

[gensurghopeful]

Absolutely SMASH boards... esp since graduating as a D.O. doc

 

[gensurghopeful]

PGY just means post grad year and can refer to basically how long you’ve been out of med school. So a surgical resident in his fourth year is a PGY4, for example.

You’ve basically got the right idea. You want to match into a solid academic internal medicine residency to have a shot at heme/onc. Heme/onc isn’t terribly competitive but coming from an academic center (preferably one with its own heme/onc fellowship program) will make it a lot easier. Taking both comlex and usmle will make matching an academic IM program more likely.

And yes you are paid during a fellowship.

Fellowships salary paid as attending physicians since at that point you did finish residency in some field, right?

 

[Cardboard101]

Fellowships salary paid as attending physicians since at that point you did finish residency in some field, right?

No, you'd be paid the same as a resident with a increase based on PGY. It's typically a 3-5% increase on the year before.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Fellowships salary paid as attending physicians since at that point you did finish residency in some field, right?

No. You are paid according to your PGY year. You can look up payment scales on residency websites, every one is different.

OP the outline for oncology is:

4 years of medical school
3 years IM residency
3 years Heme/Onc fellowship

OR

4 years of medical school
5 years of radiation oncology (extremely competitive, not the same as heme/onc)

 

[Magus5454]

Fellowships salary paid as attending physicians since at that point you did finish residency in some field, right?

Hah, dont we wish

 

[Saleemrodman1]

I was always interested in Oncology/Hematology because of family members and family friends who have had cancer, but I always thought that I would not be able to pay off all the debt because there would be a longer period of time where I'm only making between $40K-$50K, allowing interest to keep accumulating.

On a Hematologist salary, is it possible to pay $300-$400K worth of debt? Thanks.