Predictors of an Academic Career in Radiation Oncology 5 to 10 Years After Residency

Objective: To report the percentage of resident graduates in the modern era who establish careers in academic radiation oncology 5 to 10 years after residency. Materials and Methods: The study population included 1147 radiation oncologists who completed residency between 2011 and 2017 and were practicing radiation oncologists in 2021. Results: The percentage of 2011-2017 graduates with an academic career in 2021 (5 to 10 y after residency): Holman Pathway resident: Yes, 74% versus No, 43% (P< 0.05); PhD degree before residency: Yes, 67% versus No, 38% (P< 0.05), Doximity top-10 ranked residency program: Yes, 66% versus No, 37% (P< 0.05). Logistic regression multivariate analysis confirmed PhD and Doximity top-10 as strong independent predictors for all endpoints. Regarding gender, no significant differences were observed for all 4 endpoints in the percentage of women versus men establishing academic careers at the 5-year to 10-year post-residency time point. Conclusion: Since 2011, at least one-third (similar to 35%) of radiation oncology residents have gone into academic medicine and are academically productive 5 to 10 years after residency. Holman Pathway, PhD degree, or Doximity top-10 residency program approximately doubles the probability of an academic career. Moreover, radiation oncology is on track to achieve gender equity in academic medicine.