Why Workforce Diversity in Oncology Matters

Abstract

In our daily practice many of us witness the value of the multidisciplinary approach for improving patient care. Specialists from different disciplines bring their perspective to the table at tumor boards to discuss standards of care, data from relevant clinical trials, and professional experience. Multidisciplinary expertise allows us to collectively reach informed solutions based on a better understanding of complex situationsdsolutions that transcend the silos of our individual areas of expertise. Indeed, the multidisciplinary approach to oncologic care is a method of diversification in which restrictive boundaries are dismantled to improve patient outcomes. However, this diverse approach is not being aptly applied to the looming crisis of racial/ethnic healthcare disparities. The article by Chapman and colleagues (1) evaluating the diversity of the radiation oncology physician workforce in the United States outlines the significant lack of representation of African-Americans along the pipeline from medical school to radiation oncology residency (7.1% vs 3.3%). African-Americans were less likely to apply to radiation oncology residency programs compared with whites and were less likely to attend a medical school with an affiliated residency. Their finding that only 3.3% of current trainees in radiation oncology are African-American is similar to the 3.1% representation in medical oncology training programs. Some readers will question the importance and/or relevance of the work done by Chapman and colleagues. Indeed, the overall findings may not be deemed surprising or interesting when considered in isolation; but viewed in the context of racial/ethnic disparities in cancer outcomes, these data compel us to consider the implications of such persistent imbalance for our patients and, more importantly, to determine our role in remedying it. According to projections made by the US Census Bureau, the racial and ethnic diversity of the country is expected to increase substantially over the next several decades. The population of some racial/ethnic groups is expected to more than double