Cleaning without SOAP: How Program Directors Should Respond to Going Unmatched in 2020.

In the article by Bates et al, 1 Bates J.E. Amdur R.J. Lee W.R. The high number of unfilled positions in the 2019 radiation oncology residency match: Temporary variation or indicator of important change?. Pract Radiat Oncol. 2019; 9: 300-302 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (25) Google Scholar the authors nicely summarize data from the 2019 National Residency Matching Program for Radiation Oncology that revealed an unmatched rate of 14.5% (30 positions), representing a 15-year high. Expansion of residency positions in radiation oncology has been well documented, more than doubling since 2001 (211 vs 93 positions). 1 Bates J.E. Amdur R.J. Lee W.R. The high number of unfilled positions in the 2019 radiation oncology residency match: Temporary variation or indicator of important change?. Pract Radiat Oncol. 2019; 9: 300-302 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (25) Google Scholar In 2019, for the first time, significantly more positions were available than candidates applying. As discussed by Agarwal et al, 2 Agarwal A. Royce T.J. Goodman C.R. et al. Unfilled positions in the 2019 national resident matching program radiation oncology match and supplemental offer and acceptance program. Pract Radiat Oncol. 2019; 9: 501-502 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (13) Google Scholar despite the gap in 2019, ultimately more total positions were filled relative to 2018 owing to candidates who did not originally apply to radiation oncology filling in the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). Cleaning Without SOAP: How Program Directors Should Respond to Going Unmatched in 2020 In Regard to Kharofa et alInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, PhysicsVol. 108Issue 3PreviewThe recent recommendations by Kharofa et al endorsed by several radiation oncology program directors was of great interest.1,2 I was a member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology workforce committee for many years and involved in the 2012 and 2017 workforce surveys. A majority of responding radiation oncologists in the 2017 survey believed there was an oversupply of radiation oncologists.3 This same perception among recent medical students has likely led to decreased interest in pursuing radiation oncology as a career. Full-Text PDF In Regard to Kharofa et alInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, PhysicsVol. 107Issue 1PreviewThe following program directors would also like to endorse the brief opinion piece "Cleaning without SOAP: How Program Directors Should Respond to Going Unmatched in 2020" (Volume 106, Issue 2, Pages 241-242). Full-Text PDF