Interest In Radiation Oncology Research Articles

Pilot Study Assessing Student Interest in Combined Residency Training Pathways With Radiation Oncology

Most medical students have limited exposure to radiation oncology (RO) before deciding which specialty to choose for residency. This may limit the number and diversity of RO applicants. The purpose of this study was to determine students' views on a combined pathway program of RO with internal medicine (IM), as well as other related medical specialties, as a potential means of overcoming barriers to interest in RO and the early decision point to solo training in a highly specialized field. In July to August 2022, all 299 United States student and postgraduate year 1 members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology were sent an electronic survey assessing their views on advantages and disadvantages of a combined IM/RO training pathway, and interest in several options of combined pathway programs. Eighty participants completed the survey (response rate 27%). Thirty-four (43%) were very or extremely interested in IM/RO residency (median Likert-type rating 3, IQR 2-4). The most important potential advantages of an IM/RO pathway included greater flexibility in employment options (n = 51, 64%), enhanced general medical knowledge to facilitate ambitions in other career pathways (n = 46, 58%), improved patient care (n = 43, 54%), and having a pathway for combined hematologic/oncology and RO board certification (n = 46, 58%). In comparison to IM/RO, participants were significantly more interested in a combined RO and hematology/oncology program (median Likert-type rating 5, IQR 5-5, P = .005). Among the subgroup of 26 survey participants who believed it less likely they would apply for RO residency, 18 (69%) thought an IM/RO pathway would increase their interest in RO (median Likert-type rating 4, IQR 3-5). Interest in IM/RO did not differ by gender, race, or ethnicity. Combined training pathways involving RO were viewed positively by survey respondents, and may be particularly appealing to those less committed to a career in RO. Further research will help guide recommendations for the creation of these programs.

Survey of ASCO Sponsored Oncology Interest Groups in the United States Assessing Medical Student Perceptions of Education in Radiation Oncology and Future Employment Prospects

Over the last five years, applications to radiation oncology residency programs among graduates of medical schools in the United States (US) have declined by nearly 50% with a corresponding increase in unfilled positions in the National Resident Matching Program. This has led to ongoing concern regarding the future of the radiation oncology workforce and speculation regarding contributing factors. There are no published data substantiating medical student viewpoints on these issues. To better understand medical student perceptions of oncology specialties (medical oncology (MO), radiation oncology (RO), and surgical oncology/surgical subspecialties (SO)) and factors contributing to their career choices, we conducted a survey among oncology interest groups sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Survey content emphasized relative impressions of oncology specialties, exposure to these fields during medical school, and perceptions of future employment prospects. An IRB-approved thirty-item questionnaire was distributed electronically via SurveyMonkey to US medical student members of ASCO sponsored interest groups. Participation was optional at the institutional and individual level and responses anonymous. Chi square test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare categorical variables. Two-hundred seventy-nine students completed the survey (37% male, 62% female; 42% White, 40% Asian, 18% underrepresented minorities). Students report receiving less exposure to radiation oncology during medical school: 19% report RO is not included in their curriculum vs. 4% for MO (p<0.01); 77% report receiving lectures from MO faculty, 33% from RO, and 41% from SO (p <0.01); 41% were encouraged to consider RO as a specialty, compared to 62 % for MO and 42% for SO (p < 0.01); 45% report having a clear understanding of role of MO in oncology care vs. only 25% for RO and 38% for SO (p<0.01); 41% saw MO as leaders of the multidisciplinary cancer team, 1 % for RO, and 2% for SO, 47% felt all played equal roles (p<0.01). Students have more negative perceptions of future career prospects for RO: 81% feel that job prospects for MO are strong, 55% for RO and 73% for SO (p<0.01); 54% feel strongly that jobs are available in desirable geographic locations for MO, 36% for RO, 48% for SO (p<0.01); 27% of students report concerns about the future viability of RO, 10% for MO, and 11% for SO (p<0.01). Compared to other oncology specialties, students have less exposure to RO, less understanding of the role of RO in multidisciplinary cancer care, and more pessimism about the future job market/specialty viability. These are likely contributing factors to declining interest in RO among graduates of US medical schools. Current radiation oncologists should increase efforts to improve medical student interest and understanding of RO.

Pilot Study Assessing Student Interest in Combined Residency Training Pathways with Radiation Oncology

Radiation oncology (RO) is a small, highly specialized field, which most medical students have limited exposure to before having to decide what specialty to apply to for their graduate medical education (GME). This may ultimately limit the number and diversity of RO applicants. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine students' views on a combined pathway program between RO with internal medicine (IM), as well as other related medical specialties, as a potential means of overcoming some of these barriers to student interest in RO and the early decision point to solo training in RO. An electronic survey was sent to 299 United States student members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) between July-August 2022. Multiple choice and Likert-type questions were used to assess students' views on the potential advantages and disadvantages of a combined IM/RO training pathway, and interest in this potential combined pathway as well as other combined pathway programs with RO and other related subspecialties. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare the responses of subgroups of students stratified according to their gender identity, race, or ethnicity. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare all participants' interest in different combined pathway programs compared to RO/IM. Eighty participants completed the survey (response rate 27%). Thirty-four participants (43%) were either very or extremely interested in pursuing a combined IM/RO residency (median Likert-type rating 3, IQR 2-4). The duration of a combined IM/RO training considered most preferable or ideal was five years (n = 57, 71%) or six years (n = 21, 26%). The most important potential advantages of a combined IM/RO pathway included greater flexibility in employment options (n = 51, 64%), enhanced general medical knowledge to facilitate ambitions in other career pathways (n = 46, 58%), improved patient care (n = 43, 54%), and having a pathway for combined hematologic/oncology and RO board certification (n = 46, 58%). In comparison to IM/RO, participants were significantly more interested in a combined RO and hematology/oncology program (median Likert-type rating 5, IQR 5-5, p = 0.005). Among the subgroup of 26 students who believed that it was less likely that they would be applying for RO residency, 18 (69%) believed that the availability of an IM/RO pathway would increase their interest in applying to RO (median Likert-type rating 4, IQR 3-5). Interest in IM/RO did not differ by gender, race, or ethnicity. Combined training pathways involving RO were viewed positively by most survey respondents, comprised of student members of ASTRO. Such programs may be particularly appealing to those students who are interested, but less committed to pursuing, a career in RO. Further research will help guide recommendations for the creation of these programs.

Current State and Prospectives for Proton Boron Capture Therapy.

The development of new methods increasing the biological effectiveness of proton therapy (PT) is of high interest in radiation oncology. The use of binary technologies, in which the damaging effect of proton radiation is further enhanced by the selective accumulation of the radiosensitizer in the target tissue, can significantly increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy. To increase the absorbed dose in a tumor target, proton boron capture therapy (PBCT) was proposed based on the reaction of proton capture on the 11B isotope with the formation of three α-particles. This review summarizes data on theoretical and experimental studies on the effectiveness and prospects of proton boron capture therapy.

Early introduction to clinical radiation oncology through a self-directed competency-based medical student curriculum.

11038 Background: Specialty training is not traditionally incorporated into standard medical education and there is a deficiency in exposure to Radiation Oncology for “last minute” interested candidates, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds. Therefore, we implemented MERAO-200, an introductory 2-week in-person and virtual medical education curriculum without clinical prerequisites to facilitate early introduction to the field of Radiation Oncology and report its effect on student comfort and familiarity with radiation planning and contouring. Methods: Clinical students were enrolled in a 2-week elective without clinical prerequisites that integrated both clinical activities and self-directed learning through virtual contouring modules. The virtual curriculum was designed around three modules available on EduCase. A survey was conducted after completion of the modules that solicited self-identifying information and to assess their efficacy in increasing understanding of basic contouring skills. Paired t-tests were used to compare pre- and post-elective assessment results. Results: Twenty-three total students have completed MERAO-200 from Fall 2020 to Spring 2023. Of those, 15 submitted the survey. Eight (53%) students did not answer self-identifying information such as gender, race, ethnicity, or country of origin. Four (27%) students identified as Asian and 3 (20%) as white. No students identified as Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin. Seven (46%) students identified as having USA as country of origin. Seven (47%) students reported interest in radiation oncology, medical oncology or surgical oncology. Three (20%) students were MS2, 7 (47%) were MS3, and 5 (33%) were MS4. Overall, there was a significant increase in comfort level using radiation planning software (p = 1.1e-4) as well as ability to find relevant contouring references (p = 4.2e-5). Knowledge of the anatomy and contouring principles also improved for the three modules: eye and brain (p = 2.8e-7), high grade glioma (3.2e-6), and head and neck nodal stations (4.5e-6). CNS module difficulty on a scale of 1-10 had a median difficulty score of 7 (range 3-8) and head and neck module difficulty was a median of 7 (range 3-10). Conclusions: Implementation of MERAO-200 improved medical student exposure to the field of Radiation Oncology and improved medical student comfort and familiarity with radiation planning and across all disease sites covered. More outreach work needs to be done to facilitate inclusion of minority student populations and students from underrepresented backgrounds. Early introduction at the medical student level could be a pathway to improve disparity in the field of Radiation Oncology.

Impact of a Virtual Introduction to Radiation Oncology Presentation on Stimulating Interest in the Specialty Among Diverse Medical Students at Multiple Institutions.

Many US medical students lack access to radiation oncology (RO). Our hypothesis is that a virtual, cross-institutional presentation introducing students to a career in RO will be valuable in exposing students to RO who are less likely to access it otherwise, and will increase students' interest in a career in RO regardless of their gender, race, and ethnicity. A 1-hour, live, virtual, extracurricular presentation was offered to Deans of US medical schools lacking an affiliated RO department and/or having a high enrollment of students underrepresented in medicine (UIM), and also student groups comprised primarily of UIM students. Presentations were given individually to each school by a single radiation oncologist. An electronic survey captured data from participating students. 197 students from 13 institutions attended a presentation; 114 students responded to the survey (response rate 58%). Ninety-two students (81%) were aware of the specialty of RO before the presentation; however, UIM students were significantly less likely to be aware of RO than all others (69% vs. 87%, p=0.05). Only 19 students (17%) reported previously hearing a presentation from a radiation oncologist (29% among 2nd-4th years vs. 9% among 1st years, p=0.01). Ninety-eight students (86%) expressed more interest in pursuing a career in RO after the presentation. There was no significant difference in interest in RO for any demographic subgroups. Virtual RO exposure was feasible to deliver to students less likely to be exposed otherwise, and successfully stimulated interest in the specialty regardless of students' gender, race, or ethnicity.

Predictors of Interest in Radiation Oncology: The Effect of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Other Diversity Measures

The presence of women and people underrepresented in medicine (URiM) continues to be lower in radiation oncology (RO) than within the United States population, medical school graduates, and oncology fellowship applicants. The objective of this study was to identify demographics of matriculating medical students who are inclined to consider pursuing a residency in RO and identify barriers to entry that students may perceive before medical school training. A survey of incoming medical students at New York Medical College was distributed via e-mail and assessed demographic background information, interest in and awareness of oncologic subspecialties, and perceived barriers to RO. Students of the incoming class of 2026 had a complete response rate of 72% (155 complete responses and 8 incomplete responses of 214 class members). Two-thirds of participants had prior awareness of RO, and half have considered pursuing an oncologic subspecialty, but less than one-fourth have ever previously considered a career in RO. Students responded that they need more education, clinical exposure, and mentorship to increase their chance of choosing RO. Male participants had 3.4 times the odds of having an acquaintance in the community tell them about the specialty and also had significantly greater interest in using advanced technologies. There were no URiM participants who had personal relationships with an RO physician compared with 6 (4.5%) non-URiM participants. The average response to "What is the likelihood that you will pursue a career in RO?" showed no significant difference between genders. All races and ethnicities scored a similar likelihood of pursuing a career in RO, which differs greatly from the current RO workforce. Responses emphasized the importance of education, mentorship, and exposure to RO. This study demonstrates the need for support of female and URiM students during medical school.

Fifteen-Year Trends in Canadian Female Medical Student Interest in Radiation Oncology

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> The proportion of female radiation oncology residents in Canada remains disproportionately low. The objective of this study was to examine 15 years of resident match data to assess trends in gender-specific medical student interest and match characteristics in radiation oncology (RO). <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> Public Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) data between 2007-21 were compiled. Gender-based analysis focused on Canadian medical graduates (CMGs) ranking RO as their first-choice discipline in the first iteration of the match. Gender data were not available for applicants and match characteristics for second iteration outcomes. Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare 15-year average female medical student interest in RO versus all training programs. Paired t-test was used to compare total, female, and male applicant numbers over five-year increments (2007-11; 2012-16; 2017-21). Statistical analysis was performed using statistical software. <h3>Results</h3> Total applicants to RO programs ranged between 24-51 per year over the study period. The mean number of applicants ranking RO as their first-choice discipline significantly decreased from 24 (range: 20-27) in 2007-11 to 16 (12-18) in 2012-16 (p<0.01), with an increase to 22 (9-28) in 2017-21 (p<0.05). The 15-year average of female RO applicants was 9 per year, ranging from 2/9 (22%) in 2017 to 12/18 (67%) applicants in 2015. Female applicant numbers were lower in 2012-16 (mean 7; 4-12) compared to 2007-11 (mean 14; 11-16; p<0.01). Female applicant numbers in 2017-21 (mean 7; 2-10) were comparable to 2012-16 (p=0.46), but remained lower than 2007-11 (p<0.01). Male applicant numbers were similar (p=0.12) in 2007-11 (mean 10; 9-12) and 2012-16 (mean 8; 5-11), but increased in 2017-21 (mean= 15; 7-20) compared to 2007-11 (p=0.03) and 2012-16 (p=0.01). Overall, 308 CMG applicants ranked RO as their first choice over the past 15 years; 141 females (46%) and 167 males (54%). Over the same period, 56% (24472/43667) of CMG applicants who participated in the CaRMS match were female. Female CMG application rates to RO were significantly lower compared to application rates to all specialties combined (p<0.01). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Despite increasing male applicant numbers, the number of RO-preferring female medical students remains disproportionately low. Female medical student interest in RO over the last ten years has also fallen significantly from 2007-11 levels. These findings highlight the need for early exposure of female medical students and improved mentorship efforts. A deeper understanding of factors influencing female medical students' career selection and CaRMS ranking decisions is required to improve female representation in RO. These data have led to a special interest group proposal for women in RO, now being considered by the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology.

Pilot Study Exploring the Feasibility and Value of Introducing Diverse Students in Premedical Programs to Multidisciplinary Oncology

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> The radiation oncology (RO) workforce has less racial and ethnic diversity than most medical specialties. Some important components of cultivating students' interest in RO include early access to the specialty, development of sustained mentor and sponsor relationships, and publication of oncology research. However, because RO is uncommonly incorporated into curricula at US medical schools, there is potentially value in efforts to expose premedical students to RO. Many US medical schools have affiliated pipeline, preparatory, and/or prematriculation programs that enroll a high percentage of students historically underrepresented in medicine (UIM), but only approximately one-fourth of academic RO departments report interacting with these programs. We hypothesize that it will be feasible for radiation oncologists to proactively engage students in these programs, and students' perceived interest in oncology will increase because of it. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> Leaders of 6 premedical programs designed primarily for UIM students affiliated with 4 US medical schools (each of which had an affiliated RO department) were emailed to assess their interest in a 45-minute virtual presentation introducing multidisciplinary cancer care. All programs lacked any similar didactic, and agreed. A presentation titled "Translating Scientific Principles into Practice in the Care of Patients with Cancer" was given to each program individually. An electronic survey of multiple choice and Likert-type questions was used to capture data from participating students. Descriptive statistics are reported. <h3>Results</h3> 96 students completed the survey, out of 284 attendees (response rate 34%). 66 students were female (69%). 34 students self-identified as Black (55%), 26 Asian (27%), 13 white (14%), 10 multi-racial (10%), and 18 other race (19%). 27 students identified as Hispanic ethnicity (28%). 46 students (48%) were post-baccalaureate medical school pre-matriculants, 18 (19%) were in college, 32 (31%) were in high school or younger. 88 (92%) plan to attend medical school. 61 participants (64%) were previously aware of the field of RO, whereas 9 (9%) had previously heard a presentation from a radiation oncologist. After the presentation, 74 students (77%) expressed increased interest in a career in oncology (including 64% more interested in RO, 68% in medical oncology, and 55% in surgical oncology). 77 students (80%) desired further clinical shadowing, 60 (63%) an oncology research project, 30 (31%) attending a tumor board, and 35 (36%) more virtual oncology educational content. <h3>Conclusion</h3> RO participation in premedical programs with predominantly UIM students was feasible in all programs contacted, and inspired interest in oncology among the majority of students. Future work will expand this outreach at similar programs affiliated with more US medical schools.

Impact of a Virtual Introduction to Radiation Oncology Lecture on Stimulating Specialty Interest among Diverse Medical Students at Multiple Institutions

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> Many US medical students lack access to basic education in radiation oncology (RO). This is particularly common at schools with higher enrollment of students underrepresented in medicine (UIM), which may contribute to inadequate diversity in the RO workforce. We hypothesize that a virtual, cross-institutional lecture introducing students to a career in RO will be valuable to students less likely to have access to it otherwise, and increase their interest in RO as a career. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> A 1-hour, live, virtual, extracurricular lecture was offered to all (A) 15 US medical schools with at least 15% enrollment of UIM students per AAMC data, (B) 23 other medical schools lacking an affiliated RO residency program or department, and (C) a convenience sample of 22 medical student groups comprised of primarily UIM members at any US medical schools with contact information available online. Each lecture was promoted broadly, and the overall number of students invited is unknown. The lectures were given individually to each school by a singular academic radiation oncologist. A post-lecture electronic survey of 6 multiple choice and Likert-type questions was used to capture data from participating students. Descriptive statistics are reported. The Fisher's Exact test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare subgroups of students based on medical school year, gender, race, ethnicity, and presence of affiliated RO department. <h3>Results</h3> 197 students from 13 institutions attended a lecture, and 114 responded to the survey (response rate 58%). Students' demographics included: 68% 1^st years, 59% female, 42% white, 32% Asian, 13% Black, 15% Hispanic, and 61% from a school without a RO department. When coordinated by an UIM student group, 60% of respondents were UIM, as compared to 16% UIM respondents when promoted to all medical students (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The mean overall UIM student enrollment at the participating schools was 14% (SD 9%). 92 students (81%) were aware of the specialty of RO before the lecture; however, UIM students were significantly less likely to be aware of RO than all others (69% vs. 87%, <i>p</i> = 0.05). Only 19 students (17%) reported previously hearing a RO lecture. 98 students (86%) expressed more interest in pursuing a career in RO after the lecture. There was no significant difference in interest in RO for any demographic subgroups of participants. 18 students (16%) contacted the speaker afterwards for guidance on research or mentorship opportunities locally or nationally. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Virtual RO exposure was feasible to deliver to students less likely to be exposed, and successfully stimulated interest in the specialty among most students regardless of their gender, race, or ethnicity. Sustainable pathways are needed to link these students to RO departments with mentors and sponsors who can help facilitate a more diverse RO workforce.

Assessment of Medical Student Research Mentorship Based on Publications in ASTRO Journals

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> Mentored research opportunities often stimulate medical student (MS) interest in a particular field and help them to be competitive residency applicants. Many MSs pursue at least one research project during medical school. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges faculty roster there are approximately 1,800 radiation oncology (RO) faculty at US MD-granting medical schools; however, little is known about whether radiation oncologists are providing adequate research opportunities to MSs who are potentially interested in the specialty. We hypothesize that relatively few academic RO faculty mentor MSs in research, and the minority of publications in American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) journals will have MS co-authors. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> Data for this study derived from a review of the byline and abstract of all 1,785 scientific articles (i.e., clinical, basic science, training/education) and case reports published from 2019-2021 in The International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics (IJROBP), Practical Radiation Oncology (PRO), and Advances in Radiation Oncology (ARO). Review, editorial, and correspondence article types were excluded. MS authors were defined as individuals affiliated with a medical school but lacking an MD, DO, or PhD degree. The primary faculty mentor was defined as the senior (last) author. Information related to article type, methods, institution, and author position was recorded. Descriptive statistics and Chi square test were used where appropriate. <h3>Results</h3> A total of 105 of 1,785 articles (6%) included a MS author, among which 72 (69%) were clinical, 13 (11%) training/education, 12 (11%) case reports, and 8 (8%) basic science. MS authors were more common for publications in ARO (9%) than PRO (6%) or IJROBP (4%, <i>p</i> = 0.002). Thirty-eight (32%) MSs were first author, 26 (22%) second author, and 55 (46%) third author or beyond. There were 88 unique faculty mentors for these articles, with 10 mentors (11%) on 2 or more MS publications, and 57 mentors (64.7%) sharing the same institution as the MS. The median number of articles per mentor institution was 1 (interquartile range 1-2), and the mentor institutions in the upper quartile in terms of number of MS publications accounted for 53 (50.5%) of all MS publications. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Over the past 3 years, a small fraction of publications in ASTRO journals included MS authors, with mentorship disproportionately from a small number of academic faculty at select institutions. Though RO faculty may mentor MSs on projects published in other journals, efforts to more broadly encourage academic RO faculty to offer MSs research opportunities on RO-related projects may help stimulate more interest in RO, and reverse the recent trend of fewer residency applicants.

85: Ten-Year Trends in Canadian Female Medical Student Interest in Radiation Oncology

85: Ten-Year Trends in Canadian Female Medical Student Interest in Radiation Oncology

Ten-year trends in Canadian female medical student interest in radiation oncology: an analysis of data from the Canadian Resident Matching Service (2012-2021)

<h3>Background</h3> Canadian medical student (MS) interest in Radiation Oncology (RO) residency training has varied over the last decade. Concerns related to post-training job availability, employment location flexibility, and extended fellowship training may have affected MS perceptions of RO, potentially deterring past applicants. With recent job market improvements, there has been increased MS interest in the specialty. However, despite recent years showing no gender differences in successfully matching to first-choice overall nonsurgical disciplines, the number of women entering RO residency remains low. This study examines 10 years of resident match data to assess trends in gender-specific interest and match characteristics in RO. <h3>Methods</h3> Publicly available Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) data from 2012 to 2021 were compiled. Gender-based analysis focused on Canadian medical graduates (CMGs) ranking RO as their first-choice discipline in the match's first iteration. No applicant gender data were available for the 1 to 8 first-year residency positions carried over to the second iteration that occurred in 7 out of 10 matches over the study period. Pearson's chi-square test was used to evaluate whether the number of female applicants differed significantly from what could be expected if RO applicant gender breakdown reflected Canadian CaRMS participant demographics. <h3>Results</h3> Numbers of applicants ranking RO as their first-choice discipline have recently increased. 2018-2021 saw 23-28 RO-preferring applicants, while 2012-2017 saw 9-18. Total applicants ranged from 24-51 per year over the study period. Numbers of female RO-preferring applicants have remained largely unchanged, with a 10-year average of 7 women per year, ranging from 2/15 (13%) in 2016 to 12/27 (44%) RO-preferring applicants in 2018. Overall, 190 CMG applicants ranked RO as their first choice over the last 10 years, comprising 73 females (38%) and 117 males (62%). During this period, 56% (17696/31618) of CMG applicants who participated in the CaRMS match were female. ​​Rates of female applicants to RO were significantly lower compared to rates of female applicants to all specialties combined (p < 0.01). <h3>Discussion</h3> While recent years have had more RO-preferring applicants overall, numbers of RO-preferring female applicants have remained low, and disproportionately less than rates of female CaRMS participants. Findings highlight the need for greater understanding of the factors influencing female medical students' career selection and CaRMS ranking decisions to develop strategies to improve female representation in RO.

Cancer Careers a ROECSGXLearnOncology podcast: Increasing Accessibility to Information about Oncology Careers

Purpose In recent years, medical student (MS) applications to U.S. and Canadian radiation oncology (RO) residency programs have declined. The Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group (ROECSG) recently formed an Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) committee consisting of attending physicians, residents, and MSs across the globe to further UGME educational efforts. This group identified a need for outreach activities to increase exposure to and interest in RO. Methods In collaboration with LearnOncology, an online, interactive tool to teach oncology skills to learners at all levels, the UGME subcommittee created a structure for a podcast series to highlight oncology careers. This podcast series will be hosted on LearnOncology. Together, these groups identified key topics, informally surveyed MSs, wrote a standardized script, trained interviewers on recording and editing audio content, and set goals for the future scope of the podcast. Results MS and resident interviewers recently completed training and have scheduled initial faculty interviews. Edited podcast episodes will be ≤20 minutes, conducted informally to spotlight both the career and personality of the interviewee. Prominent oncology specialists (e.g. radiation, surgery, medicine, interventional radiology, and physics) will be featured. Listeners will be prompted to complete a brief survey. Interviewers and interviewees will partake in a separate survey to examine the impact of project participation. Podcast analytics and survey data will guide subsequent iterations of podcast episodes. Discussion Podcasts for UGME are a cost-effective teaching method, which gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesize that this podcast will be a unique way to positively impact undecided MSs facing the challenge of choosing a career path and increase awareness about oncology specialties. Additionally, this may positively impact mentorship through linking MS and resident interviewers to specialist interviewees. The LearnOncologyXROECSG podcast platform, Cancer Careers, was created to address student questions, anxieties, and excitement related to choosing an oncology career. We expect that this project will increase exposure to oncology and MS interest in oncology careers, including RO. In recent years, medical student (MS) applications to U.S. and Canadian radiation oncology (RO) residency programs have declined. The Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group (ROECSG) recently formed an Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) committee consisting of attending physicians, residents, and MSs across the globe to further UGME educational efforts. This group identified a need for outreach activities to increase exposure to and interest in RO. In collaboration with LearnOncology, an online, interactive tool to teach oncology skills to learners at all levels, the UGME subcommittee created a structure for a podcast series to highlight oncology careers. This podcast series will be hosted on LearnOncology. Together, these groups identified key topics, informally surveyed MSs, wrote a standardized script, trained interviewers on recording and editing audio content, and set goals for the future scope of the podcast. MS and resident interviewers recently completed training and have scheduled initial faculty interviews. Edited podcast episodes will be ≤20 minutes, conducted informally to spotlight both the career and personality of the interviewee. Prominent oncology specialists (e.g. radiation, surgery, medicine, interventional radiology, and physics) will be featured. Listeners will be prompted to complete a brief survey. Interviewers and interviewees will partake in a separate survey to examine the impact of project participation. Podcast analytics and survey data will guide subsequent iterations of podcast episodes. Podcasts for UGME are a cost-effective teaching method, which gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesize that this podcast will be a unique way to positively impact undecided MSs facing the challenge of choosing a career path and increase awareness about oncology specialties. Additionally, this may positively impact mentorship through linking MS and resident interviewers to specialist interviewees. The LearnOncologyXROECSG podcast platform, Cancer Careers, was created to address student questions, anxieties, and excitement related to choosing an oncology career. We expect that this project will increase exposure to oncology and MS interest in oncology careers, including RO.

Pilot Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Seminar Series to Foster Increased Understanding of and Interest in Oncologic Care Among Medical Students

Background Prior work has demonstrated a need for educational curricula to increase medical student understanding of how to care for a growing population of patients with cancer, particularly in a multidisciplinary setting. Tumor boards (TBs) foster both high quality complex care for patients with cancer and continued education for oncologists. While TBs are critical components of oncologic practice, medical students have minimal exposure to TBs. We designed a TB seminar series for preclinical medical students with the primary aim of promoting a multidisciplinary lens towards cancer care and a secondary aim of increasing exposure to radiation oncology (RO). Methods Seminars were developed in collaboration with a resident-led RO Education Committee and a medical student-led Oncology Interest Group (OIG) at a single academic institution. Each seminar comprised of a 30-minute RO resident-led didactic session followed by a 60-minute institutional TB meeting and concluded with a 15-minute resident-led debrief. The didactics were used to provide a scaffold for observing the TB by describing the specialists' roles, commonly encountered diseases, treatment paradigms, and clinical challenges frequently addressed in this venue. In the resident-led didactic, special emphasis was placed on describing RO approaches and considerations. The post-TB debrief offered an opportunity for consolidation by providing a forum to address questions, highlight learning points, provide closure to challenging scenarios, and explore opportunities for engagement in research. Results The first seminar series piloted was Stereotactic Radiosurgery TB. An email inviting participation was sent via the OIG to all first-year medical students at our institution. Six students pre-registered for the seminar and subsequently participated in the seminar. Three students expressed interest in writing a case report on a patient treated with radiosurgery following the seminar experience. Participating students and program leadership expressed interest in continued seminar programming; the second seminar in the series will expose students to a breast TB. Discussion Pilot implementation of a multidisciplinary TB seminar series for medical students is feasible and may spark clinical and scholarly interest in RO. Future directions include formal integration of TB opportunities into longitudinal oncology curricula in preclinical medical education and promoting sustainability of the seminar series through institutional support. We plan to conduct a longitudinal mixed-methods study among students who attend at least one TB seminar in the series to assess the impact of the seminar series on familiarity with multidisciplinary care, interest in a career in RO, and participation in RO-focused scholarship. Prior work has demonstrated a need for educational curricula to increase medical student understanding of how to care for a growing population of patients with cancer, particularly in a multidisciplinary setting. Tumor boards (TBs) foster both high quality complex care for patients with cancer and continued education for oncologists. While TBs are critical components of oncologic practice, medical students have minimal exposure to TBs. We designed a TB seminar series for preclinical medical students with the primary aim of promoting a multidisciplinary lens towards cancer care and a secondary aim of increasing exposure to radiation oncology (RO). Seminars were developed in collaboration with a resident-led RO Education Committee and a medical student-led Oncology Interest Group (OIG) at a single academic institution. Each seminar comprised of a 30-minute RO resident-led didactic session followed by a 60-minute institutional TB meeting and concluded with a 15-minute resident-led debrief. The didactics were used to provide a scaffold for observing the TB by describing the specialists' roles, commonly encountered diseases, treatment paradigms, and clinical challenges frequently addressed in this venue. In the resident-led didactic, special emphasis was placed on describing RO approaches and considerations. The post-TB debrief offered an opportunity for consolidation by providing a forum to address questions, highlight learning points, provide closure to challenging scenarios, and explore opportunities for engagement in research. The first seminar series piloted was Stereotactic Radiosurgery TB. An email inviting participation was sent via the OIG to all first-year medical students at our institution. Six students pre-registered for the seminar and subsequently participated in the seminar. Three students expressed interest in writing a case report on a patient treated with radiosurgery following the seminar experience. Participating students and program leadership expressed interest in continued seminar programming; the second seminar in the series will expose students to a breast TB. Pilot implementation of a multidisciplinary TB seminar series for medical students is feasible and may spark clinical and scholarly interest in RO. Future directions include formal integration of TB opportunities into longitudinal oncology curricula in preclinical medical education and promoting sustainability of the seminar series through institutional support. We plan to conduct a longitudinal mixed-methods study among students who attend at least one TB seminar in the series to assess the impact of the seminar series on familiarity with multidisciplinary care, interest in a career in RO, and participation in RO-focused scholarship.

A Targeted Interest Survey of Preclinical Medical Students for Implementation of Exposure Opportunities in Multidisciplinary Oncology Education

<h3>Background</h3> With the growing prevalence of cancer, fostering multidisciplinary interest in oncology is an important priority in medical education. However, medical student interest in radiation oncology has declined in recent years (1) in part due to a lack of exposure. Efforts have been made to increase formal radiation oncology lectures within didactics. Additionally, preclinical extracurricular activities can provide unique opportunities for meaningful exposure to oncology, including radiation oncology. This study aims to assess current interest for oncology-related activities in preclinical medical students to facilitate innovative integration of radiation oncology-related curricula. <h3>Methods</h3> An anonymous web-based survey was created and distributed to the first-year class at a single academic institution. The survey included questions exploring interest in oncology-related talks, mentorship, shadowing at tumor board discussions, and participation in a longitudinal cancer patient advocacy program. <h3>Results</h3> The survey was distributed to 169 students, with a response rate of 33.1% (n = 56). Among responders, the highest interest activities were lectures (100%, n=56), tumor boards (89.2%, n=50), mentorship (60.7%, n=34), and volunteering (57.1%, n=32). For lectures, students were most interested in surgical oncology (42.9%, n=24), followed by medical oncology (41.1%, n=23) and radiation oncology (32.1%, n=18). Among topic-based talks, 69.6% (n=27) were interested in "how to break bad news", 62.5% (n=35) in cancer disparities, and 48.2% (n=27) in multidisciplinary panels. Respondents reported interest in tumor board discussions, with lung cancer receiving the most interest (53.7%, n=29), followed by breast (48.1%, n=26) and head and neck (40.7%, n=22). In addition, 57.1% (n=32) were interested in volunteering for a longitudinal patient advocacy program. Lastly, there was interest in oncology-specialty mentorship from residents/fellows (Medical=21.2%, n=11, Surgical=10.6%, n=7, Radiation=4.3%, n=2, and any specialty=26.9%, n=11). A significant proportion of surveyed first-year medical students at a single institution are interested in oncology-related talks, tumor boards, mentorship, and volunteering. However, there was disproportionately lower student interest in radiation oncology specific topics and mentorship. <h3>Discussion</h3> These results support invested development of robust, sustainable, extracurricular oncology programs during preclinical years. This helps guide areas to focus our efforts to cultivate and solidify interest in oncology with unique opportunities to integrate radiation oncology curricula. Similar interest surveys can be distributed at other institutions to assess what opportunities would garner interest and delineate activities that would present a meaningful perspective on radiation oncology and oncology as a whole.

Problem-Based Learning Curriculum as a Tool to Increase Medical Student Exposure to Radiation Oncology

Background For many years Radiation Oncology was known to be a highly competitive and specialized field. However, over recent years there has been an increase in the number of residency spots available and a decline in the residency application pool. Thus, it is imperative to explore new techniques to recruit students to the field. Early exposure to cancer management may translate to increased student interest in Oncology-related fields and improved understanding of Oncologic treatment modalities. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) may be an effective way to provide this exposure, as it is a popular teaching method at medical schools across the country. We propose that an Oncology-focused PBL case will increase exposure to Radiation Oncology and other Oncologic subspecialties during pre-clinical years. Methods In May 2021, first year medical students (n = 140) participated in a one hour long small group PBL case that focused on pancreatic cancer and Radiation Oncology during the gastroenterology curriculum. Students were provided a case prompt and resources to review approximately one week prior to the PBL case. During the PBL case, facilitators guided students to desired learning objectives including: Describe the clinical presentation of pancreatic cancer; List imaging modalities used to make the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer; Define important terms in management of pancreatic cancer including neoadjuvant therapy, adjuvant therapy, concurrent chemoradiation, Whipple procedure; List different types of radiation and common side effects of radiation; Describe basics of planning and delivery of radiation. Facilitators consisted of attendings or residents in the field of Radiation Oncology. Results Following the PBL, there was an increase in the number of preclinical students who expressed an interest in Radiation Oncology and proceeded to shadow physicians in the department (n=1 in 6 mo prior to PBL, n=5 in 6 mo following PBL). Additionally, we saw an increase in the number of subscribers to the Oncology Interest Group (n = 22 prior to PBL, n = 58 following PBL). Discussion The Problem-Based Learning approach serves as an effective avenue to introduce concepts of Oncologic care to preclinical medical students. Active participation in medical school PBL curriculums could be used to increase recruitment of preclinical medical students to the field of Radiation Oncology. Upon repeat of the PBL session in May 2022 we will be including surveys to provide additional assessment of the efficacy of this technique. For many years Radiation Oncology was known to be a highly competitive and specialized field. However, over recent years there has been an increase in the number of residency spots available and a decline in the residency application pool. Thus, it is imperative to explore new techniques to recruit students to the field. Early exposure to cancer management may translate to increased student interest in Oncology-related fields and improved understanding of Oncologic treatment modalities. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) may be an effective way to provide this exposure, as it is a popular teaching method at medical schools across the country. We propose that an Oncology-focused PBL case will increase exposure to Radiation Oncology and other Oncologic subspecialties during pre-clinical years. In May 2021, first year medical students (n = 140) participated in a one hour long small group PBL case that focused on pancreatic cancer and Radiation Oncology during the gastroenterology curriculum. Students were provided a case prompt and resources to review approximately one week prior to the PBL case. During the PBL case, facilitators guided students to desired learning objectives including: Describe the clinical presentation of pancreatic cancer; List imaging modalities used to make the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer; Define important terms in management of pancreatic cancer including neoadjuvant therapy, adjuvant therapy, concurrent chemoradiation, Whipple procedure; List different types of radiation and common side effects of radiation; Describe basics of planning and delivery of radiation. Facilitators consisted of attendings or residents in the field of Radiation Oncology. Following the PBL, there was an increase in the number of preclinical students who expressed an interest in Radiation Oncology and proceeded to shadow physicians in the department (n=1 in 6 mo prior to PBL, n=5 in 6 mo following PBL). Additionally, we saw an increase in the number of subscribers to the Oncology Interest Group (n = 22 prior to PBL, n = 58 following PBL). The Problem-Based Learning approach serves as an effective avenue to introduce concepts of Oncologic care to preclinical medical students. Active participation in medical school PBL curriculums could be used to increase recruitment of preclinical medical students to the field of Radiation Oncology. Upon repeat of the PBL session in May 2022 we will be including surveys to provide additional assessment of the efficacy of this technique.

A Survey to Assess and Delineate Approaches to Medical Student Outreach to Promote Diversity at Academic Radiation Oncology Programs

The aim of this study was to assess how academic radiation oncology departments engage medical students who are either female and/or from racial and ethnic demographic groups that are underrepresented in medicine. An electronic survey was sent to all 83 radiation oncology residency program directors (or if applicable medical student directors) whose department is affiliated with an on-site medical school. Questions assessed whether any faculty in the participants' department offer exposure in radiation oncology specifically to medical and premedical student groups whose members are typically women and others underrepresented in medicine, or promote the American Society for Radiation Oncology's Minority Summer Fellowship Award. Barriers to these types of involvement were also assessed. A representative from 54 out of 83 programs responded (response rate 65%). Faculty from 83% of departments had given a presentation to an oncology or radiation oncology medical student interest group. However, faculty from only 18% of departments had given a presentation to a Student National Medical Association chapter, 9% to a Latino Medical Student Association chapter, and 11% to an American Medical Women's Association chapter. Faculty from 15% of departments actively promote the Minority Summer Fellowship to the general student body, and 24% promote it to any minority students who express interest in radiation oncology. Faculty from 22% of departments had given a presentation to a premedical student group, 10% to an undergraduate student group focused on minority or female students, and 20% to a pipeline program for high school (or younger) women or other students who are underrepresented in medicine. Lack of awareness of the existence of such programs, or not being invited, were the most common barriers to participation. Most academic radiation oncology departments do not offer educational outreach specifically targeting women or minority students or promote the Minority Summer Fellowship. Further efforts are needed to break from the status quo and attract a more diverse workforce.

The Impact of the ASTRO Aspiring Scientists and Physicians Program (ASPP) on Diverse STEM Students’ Perception of Radiation Oncology

The Impact of the ASTRO Aspiring Scientists and Physicians Program (ASPP) on Diverse STEM Students’ Perception of Radiation Oncology

Approaches to Medical Student Outreach at Academic Radiation Oncology Programs

In recent years, there has been increasing interest, but minimal progress, in diversifying the radiation oncology (RO) workforce. The purpose of this study is to assess how RO programs affiliated with a medical school actively engage medical students who are either female, or from racial and ethnic demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in medicine. Our hypothesis is that outreach targeted specifically to female or minority medical students to stimulate interest in RO is relatively uncommon at most institutions.An electronic survey was sent to all 83 RO residency program directors whose department is affiliated with an on-site medical school. Program directors could specify a faculty member more directly responsible for medical student activities to respond instead. The first set of questions assessed whether in the past two years faculty had given a presentation to an oncology (or RO) medical student interest group, or to student groups devoted to a specific subset of students like a Student National Medical Association (SNMA) chapter (which usually functions as a group for Black medical students), Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) chapter, or American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) chapter. The second set of questions assessed departments' methods of promoting the ASTRO Minority Summer Fellowship Award within their medical school. The third set of questions assessed whether in the past two years faculty had given a presentation to any premedical student groups, or pipeline programs or other undergraduate groups focused on minority or female students. Descriptive statistics are reported.A representative from 54/83 programs responded (response rate 65%). Faculty from 83% of programs had given a presentation to an oncology (or RO) medical student interest group. However, only 18% had given a presentation to an SNMA chapter, 8% to an LMSA chapter, and 12% to an AMWA chapter. 15% of programs actively promote the ASTRO Minority Summer Fellowship to the general student body, 12% promote it to members of cancer interest groups, and 25% promote it to any minority students who express an interest in RO. 30% were unaware of this fellowship prior to this survey. Faculty from 22% of programs had given a presentation to a premedical student group, 10% to an undergraduate student group focused on minority or female students, and 20% to a pipeline program for high school (or younger) students focused on minority or female students.The majority of academic RO departments with a residency program and affiliated medical school do not offer educational outreach specifically targeting women or minority students, or promote the ASTRO Minority Summer Fellowship. Prioritization of such activities should be considered if there is a desire to break from the status quo and attract a more diverse workforce.