Shining the Beam on the Next Generation: A Program Evaluation of a National Workshop Focusing on Medical Student Engagement in Radiation Oncology

Abstract

The rising cancer incidence has increased demand for radiation oncologists, surpassing current staffing expansion estimates. Enhancing radiation oncology (RO) recruitment is essential to ensure high-quality cancer care. This study evaluates a 2024 Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO) Annual Scientific Meeting workshop aimed at increasing medical student interest in RO by assessing current initiatives, identifying barriers and proposing strategies. The workshop was guided by Kern's curriculum development model, which involved medical students, RO residents, staff, and program directors. It was comprised of an interactive presentation on existing scholarship and a group discussion. Data was collected through polls, observational notes, and a post-workshop survey. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Twenty-seven attendees participated, including six workshop leaders. Amongst 21 survey respondents, there were 8 (38%) medical students, 6 (29%) RO residents, 5 (24%) RO staff, 1 (5%) RO fellow, and 1 (5%) clinical research coordinator. Participants represented six Canadian cancer centers across five provinces. Key motivators for pursuing RO included mentorship ("local champion"), work variety, team-based environment, technology, and patient population. Barriers included underexposure in the medical curriculum, misconceptions about job prospects, and the impact of artificial intelligence. Workshop evaluations were highly positive. Proposed initiatives included mentorship from "local champions" and mandatory shadowing. The workshop highlighted the importance of early mentorship and exposure in fostering medical student interest in RO. Implementing strategies mentorship and structured shadowing may help facilitate medical students' professional identity formation and their decision to pursue RO as a career.

Keywords: Career Exploration; Medical Education; Radiation Oncology.