Chirag/Royce Editorial, Goodman Article, Potters Response on Job Market 031121

[RadOncMegatron]

what oversize influence and what negative effects?

I have no strength to answer this. You win.

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[RickyScott]

How can anyone call for increased diversity and inclusion in radonc when the job market has such a bad future. You are basically calling for increased unemployment among minorities. Again, it is like saying the titanic should have had a lot more blacks and Hispanics onboard.

 

[Mandelin Rain]

I have no ability to answer this. You win.

Fixed.

 

[OTN]

I'll stride in.

The concern from my point of view is NOT that having a CHEDI initiative and committee is a bad thing. Having a diverse specialty is very important, and I am glad ASTRO is making strides to ensure racism has no place in our specialty. However, there have been viewpoints put forth by some of the MDs involved in the initiative that I strongly disagree with and that may impact ASTRO's decision-making on this issue.

For example, on a recent dosimetry CME podcast run by Dr. Karen Winkfield, she said (and I won't have the exact wording right here, but I'm pretty close) "doctors who have a negative view of socialism generally tend to have not very diverse staffs." As someone who considers himself a free-market capitalist and believes that market-based initiatives generally lead to the greatest efficiencies and productivity in any economy or system, hearing that one of the radiation oncologists involved in this initiative (and who is on the ASTRO council) does not share my view (and seems to suggest I may be racist for holding it) naturally is concerning to me.

I have zero problem with anyone advocating for diversity/inclusion/improving care for underserved communities and am happy we have radiation oncologists who are doing so. I am proud to be able to offer care to those communities at prices that are far, far cheaper (including all the way down to free) than offered by academic medicine. I do have a problem when some of those radiation oncologists fundamentally disagree with me when it comes to how best to organize our society, and I do have a concern that the difference in opinion when it comes to those underlying principles will lead to suggestions to ASTRO about how to get out of this mess that I also would not agree with.

Perhaps I am wrong, and Dr. Winkfield's prior statements about capitalism vs. collectivism will not impact her ability to help ASTRO figure out what to do. I hope that's the case! However, I think it's perfectly fine (premature as it may be) to be able to state reservations about any recommendations that may be made.

 

[seper]

RadOnc residency is a trap for under-represented populations, agree. Maybe that’s why they want CHEDI to step in

 

[yesmaster]

At some point, a qualification for some academic physicians started to include progressive values and particularly bureaucratic methods for implementing those values. So, obviously you can't believe in racial and gender equality unless you also believe in single payer healthcare, high taxes, big government, blanket student loan forgiveness, open borders, defunding the police, etc.

 

[StIGMA]

For example, on a recent dosimetry CME podcast run by Dr. Karen Winkfield, she said (and I won't have the exact wording right here, but I'm pretty close) "doctors who have a negative view of socialism generally tend to have not very diverse staffs."

Aren't socialist countries exceedingly homogenous (like russia, china, cuba, vietnam etc)?

You'd think we would put leaders in charge who care about advancing cancer research, excellent patient care, health of the specialty etc. But we get incapable people who push irrelevant agendas, like pushing for more socialism in medicine.

My first major career wakeup call was about 7 years ago. Hiring new faculty for department. Remarked to dept chair that it's great to have so many excellent women candidates interview for the position (zero men). Answer was they were not hiring men.

 

[StIGMA]

Woke leadership philosophy 101, represented in this clip by Lisa Simpson (circa 1997)

 

[temujim]

Aren't socialist countries exceedingly homogenous (like russia, china, cuba, vietnam etc)?

You'd think we would put leaders in charge who care about advancing cancer research, excellent patient care, health of the specialty etc. But we get incapable people who push irrelevant agendas, like pushing for more socialism in medicine.

My first major career wakeup call was about 7 years ago. Hiring new faculty for department. Remarked to dept chair that it's great to have so many excellent women candidates interview for the position (zero men). Answer was they were not hiring men.

Have heard the exact same thing (and worse) from people involved in hiring faculty and selecting residents.

 

[fiji128]

It wasn’t my intention to turn this into a woke pissing contest but whatever. The market, ie the number of US MD applicants will speak for themselves. I’ve noticed the chatter on spread sheet is essential non existent. That can’t bode well for applicant numbers this cycle.

 

[dieABRdie]

Have heard the exact same thing (and worse) from people involved in hiring faculty and selecting residents.

Being excluded from Radiation Oncology residency is just another manifestation of white male privilege.

 

[medgator]

Oh my God, from the Potters editorial:

View attachment 332260

"RadOnc used to be too competitive for women and minorities" - Louis Potters, MD, FASTRO, FACR

 

[medgator]

Not sure how i missed this, but good read

DEFINE_ME

 

[elementaryschooleconomics]

While we're at it, let's reinforce this paper as well:

 

[TheWallnerus]

While we're at it, let's reinforce this paper as well:

View attachment 358625

What do you do when the net reimbursement per rad onc keeps going down?

Well if you’re a rad onc, you make more (and more) rad oncs obviously