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. 2025 Jan;72(1):e31419.
doi: 10.1002/pbc.31419. Epub 2024 Nov 6.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Onset on the Early Careers of Pediatric Oncology Health Professionals and Researchers: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group Young Investigators Committee, Young SIOP Network, and Young SIOPE

Gemma Bryan  1 , Louise Guolla  2 , Gabriela Inés Villanueva  3 , Sarah Cohen-Gogo  4 , Alejandra Casanovas  5 , Rina Medina  6 , Gabriel Revon-Riviere  7 , Hallie Coltin  8 , Lisa S Kahalley  9 , Janice S Withycombe  10 , Roelof van Ewijk  11 , Reineke A Schoot  11 , Thomas Cash  12 , Reto M Baertschiger  13 , Mary Frances McAleer  14 , Daniel J Benedetti  15 , Emily Greengard  16 , Carrie L Kitko  15 , Adam L Green  17 , Girish Dhall  18 , Adam J Esbenshade  15
Affiliations

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Onset on the Early Careers of Pediatric Oncology Health Professionals and Researchers: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group Young Investigators Committee, Young SIOP Network, and Young SIOPE

Gemma Bryan et al. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic onset had a global debilitating impact on individuals and on burgeoning careers. In 2021, the Children's Oncology Group Young Investigators Committee, Young SIOP (International Society of Paediatric Oncology) Network, and Young SIOPE (European Society for Paediatric Oncology) co-sponsored a survey to explore the impacts of the first year of the pandemic on early-career pediatric oncology professionals with respect to working practices, productivity, professional and career development, personal wellbeing, and changing childcare needs.

Methods: The survey comprised demographic, multiple-choice, and free-text questions, and was distributed via email and social media with English, French, and Spanish versions available. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to compare quantitative data by self-designated gender and country of origin. Qualitative data were described using content analysis.

Results: Professionals (N = 499, 26.3% male, 77.2% MDs) in 48 countries (77.6% high income) responded in English (79.4%), Spanish (12.4%), and French (8.2%). Respondents had difficulty obtaining and keeping jobs (26.9%), worsened overall academic productivity (50.7%, with higher rates among bench scientists, p < 0.01), and decreased career opportunities (40.9%). Childcare challenges impacted 56.7% of respondents and was felt more negatively among women (p = 0.008) and in high-income settings (p < 0.0001). Qualitative data (n = 300) highlighted these differences were often attributable to diminished professional/personal boundaries and impacted their personal wellbeing.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted early-career academic and clinical professionals working in pediatric oncology, with unique challenges noted among those with childcare responsibilities. Career disruptions that resulted from the pandemic should be considered and mitigated by governing bodies and hiring institutions.

Keywords: COVID‐19; career opportunities; early career; health professionals; pediatric oncology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement: None declared. These data have not been previously published and are not under review for another journal. Preliminary findings presented at the SIOP Congress in October 2021 and 2022.

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