Initial activities and prospects of MIRAY1: a youth-driven, society-endorsed initiative to cultivate future breast cancer physicians
摘要
Although the incidence of breast cancer is increasing rapidly in Japan, the number of specialized physicians remains insufficient, threatening the sustainability and geographic equity of care delivery. This growing mismatch between clinical demand and workforce capacity reflects not only numerical shortages, but also structural weaknesses in training, retention, and career development pathways. To address these workforce challenges, the Japanese Breast Cancer Society launched the Multi Institutional bReast cAncer Young team No.1 (MIRAY1) as a youth-driven, society-endorsed initiative focused on recruitment, education, and career development of future breast cancer specialists. MIRAY1 employs an innovative matrix structure where members belong to both one of six task groups and one of seven regional divisions. Each task group is designed to address specific challenges identified in the current breast cancer workforce pipeline; for example, limited early exposure, attrition during early and mid-career stages, and declining international mobility. Early activities have demonstrated high engagement among medical students and young physicians through hands-on education, digital communication, and peer-led networking. MIRAY1 represents a potentially sustainable workforce development model not only for Japan but also for other Asian countries facing similar challenges in oncology care.