The Impact of a Multidisciplinary Third-Year Oncology Elective Rotation on Decisions to Pursue Oncologic Careers and Oncology Exposure

Purpose: The majority of oncologic care is provided in the outpatient setting, yet at many medical schools, the dominant means of exposure to oncology occurs during inpatient rotations. Given the multidisciplinary nature of the specialty, radiation oncology departments are well positioned to lead outpatient oncology rotations within medical schools. Since 1992, the University of Cincinnati's Department of Radiation Oncology has administered a 2-week, third-year clinical oncology elective. This report characterizes the rotation and evaluates the impact of the rotation on students' oncology exposure and career choices over the past 10 years.

Methods and materials: A list of medical students who participated in the MS3 clinical oncology elective rotation from 2008 to 2018 was reviewed. A search engine was used to locate the physicians and identify their specialty choices. A survey of 7 questions was distributed to the oncologists to evaluate how the rotation influenced their oncology exposure and career choice.

Results: Two hundred sixty-eight medical students participated in the MS3 Clinical Oncology Specialty Clerkship from 2008 to 2018. Thirty-nine students (15%) ultimately pursued a career in oncology. Seventy-four percent of the oncologists are radiation oncologists. Eighty-eight percent of the physicians surveyed had a positive to very positive experience with the rotation. The rotation was the first clinical exposure to the field of oncology for 48% of the respondents and the first exposure to the field of radiation oncology for 69% of the physicians. Seventy-two percent of the oncologists attributed the MS3 rotation as providing a moderate or great deal of early exposure to the field of oncology.

Conclusions: Radiation oncology departments are well positioned to lead multidisciplinary, ambulatory oncology electives within US medical schools. A majority of participating oncologists viewed the rotation positively and attributed the rotation with their entrance into oncology.