Composition of the Current Academic Radiation Oncology Workforce in Comprehensive Cancer Centers

PURPOSE: The landscape of the profession of academic radiation oncology is constantly changing. We sought to determine the demographic makeup of the current academic radiation oncology workforce. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Internet web site searches of the 51 National Cancer Institute–designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) were conducted in September 2019. The Scopus database was subsequently searched in December 2019 to ascertain the h-index for each radiation oncologist. Geographic location was economically stratified (New York, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Washington DC) as previously reported. Race and binary sex were attributed by authors using publicly available information. Univariate analysis involved the chi-square test; a multivariable model considered several factors including rank and sex. RESULTS: Of 993 radiation oncologists at CCCs, 53.6% are junior faculty, 24.8% associate professors, and 21.7% full professors. The average radiation oncologist at a CCC has been a physician for 19.7 (standard deviation = 11.3) years; 4.7% (47/993) are under-represented minorities. 24.6% of men and 15.5% of women were full professors, a statistically significant difference ( P = .001). Of the 51 department chairs, 11.8% are women and 5.6% are under-represented minorities. There are fewer female than male program directors in the most economically stratified locations ( P = .02). The mean h-index for all faculty is 17.6 (standard deviation = 16.9), and significantly differs between junior faculty (8.21), associate professors (18.46), and full professors (40.05; P < .0001). It also differs between men (19.35) and women (14.11). On multivariable analysis, sex, academic rank, and a secondary advanced degree were independently significant correlates of h-index. CONCLUSION: Among academic radiation oncologists at CCCs, under 5% are under-represented minorities, men are significantly over-represented among senior faculty, and women have significantly lower h-indices than men.

Characteristics and Symptom Profiles of Patients Evaluated By A Nurse Practitioner Consultant In A Multidisciplinary Palliative Radiotherapy Clinic.

Palliative radiation therapy is an essential but often impromptu service, depending on the patient condition and symptom burden. Radiation oncologists are the usual consultant in this setting, however, there is potential to extend capacity with the addition of advanced providers such as a nurse practitioner. Purpose: to examine characteristics and symptom profiles of patients individually evaluated by a nurse practitioner with those evaluated by a radiation oncologist in a rapid access, multidisciplinary palliative radiotherapy clinic. Methods & Materials: Data were retrieved from an ethics-approved, prospective database. Patients were grouped and analyzed based on the consultant. Results: The nurse practitioner completed consultations for a total of 137 patients, the radiation oncologist for 98. No significant differences were observed in symptom profile, functional status or whether radiotherapy was prescribed. By working as a team, 58% more patients with painful bone metastases were able to access the clinic. Conclusions: An experienced nurse practitioner can significantly enhance access to consultation in a palliative radiotherapy clinic. We expect this research to inform ways that advanced providers can improve access to timely care and reduce suffering.

WHY MEASUREMENT OF RADIATION DOSE BY MEDICAL PHYSICIST AND RADIATION ONCOLOGIST BOTH?

Many years after the discovery of X-ray's and gamma rays. They have been used empirically in medicine, later on realized that this approach was dangerous mainly in radiotherapy and up to some extent in diagnostic radiology. Thus Means of measuring x-ray/γ-rays had to be found in terms of unit of x-rays quantity dened and accepted. The magnitude of the biological effect desirable in case therapy and undesirable in case of diagnosis. It depends upon how much radiation energy is absorbed by irradiated material. X-ray dosimetry is the measurement of energy absorbed in any material particularly in different tissues of the body.