The Impact of a Multidisciplinary, 3rd-year Oncology Elective Rotation on Decisions to Pursue Oncologic Careers and Oncology Exposure: The University Experience

Abstract

The majority of multidisciplinary oncologic care is provided in the outpatient setting, yet at many medical schools the dominant means of exposure occurs during inpatient rotations. Given the inherent multidisciplinary nature of the specialty, radiation oncology departments are well positioned to lead multidisciplinary outpatient oncology rotations within medical schools. Since 1992, the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Radiation Oncology has administered a two-week, 3rd year clinical elective that exposes students to most oncologic disciplines (medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, pediatric oncology, and pathology). This study evaluates the impact of this rotation on oncology exposure and ultimate career choice over the last 10 years. A list of medical students who participated in the MS3 clinical oncology-specific elective rotation from 2008 to 2018 was reviewed. A search engine was used to identify all physicians’ medical specialty choices and their current location of practice. The American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO) and American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) website directories were used to obtain e-mail addresses for all physicians with oncology practice. A survey of six questions was distributed to the physicians to evaluate how the rotation influenced the students’ oncology exposure and ultimate career choice. Two-hundred forty-four medical students participated in the 3rd year Clinical Oncology Specialty Clerkship from 2008 to 2018. Thirty-eight students (15%) ultimately pursued oncologic subspecialties and contact information was found for 32 (84%) for survey. The overall survey response rate was 78% (n = 25). Eighty-eight percent of the physicians had a positive to very positive experience with the rotation. The rotation was the first clinical exposure to the field of oncology for 48% of the respondents and the first exposure to the field of radiation oncology for 69% of the physicians. Seventy-two percent of the oncologists attributed their 3rd year rotation as providing a moderate or great deal of early exposure to the field of oncology. The number of students who participated in the clerkship who ultimately matched into radiation oncology is 28 (11.5%). Ten of the 244 students (4.1%) matched into other oncologic specialties. Radiation Oncology Departments should be well positioned to lead multidisciplinary, ambulatory, oncology electives within US medical schools. An oncology-specific rotation introduces third-year medical students to the ambulatory setting of oncology care, which they may not be exposed to otherwise. These rotations provide all students with valuable clinical exposure to oncology disciplines and may shape their ultimate career choice. A majority of participating oncologists viewed the rotation positively and attributed the rotation with their entrance into oncologic subspecialties.