Radiation Oncology

As the field of radiation oncology continues to adapt and innovate towards precision medicine, the approaches of diversifying the radiation oncology workforce in achieving health equity for all patients are a must. Application and integration of social justice, equity, diversity, access, and inclusion are critical to ensure innovation and that technological advances do not widen existing gaps in cancer care. Data collection and dissemination of workforce trends must be approached with a wide lens, ensuring variables are inclusive of demographic information not only centered on sex, race, ethnicity, and geographic location, but also encompass broader, marginalized identities such as sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, and disabilities. Through the availability of a more comprehensive dataset, we can better understand the impact of many unique and intersecting identities held by radiation oncologists, creating the foundation for more targeted and tailored approaches to recruitment, holistic review, selection, and retention. Increasing the proportional representation of radiation oncologists will help facilitate addressing the needs of a diverse patient population and mitigate persistent disparities in health-care access, delivery, and outcomes. A clear understanding of current workforce trends will allow for the creation of strategic approaches based on sound principles and data-driven techniques, as is routinely done through the application of evidence-based treatment guideline recommendations. Implementation of holistic review, implicit and antibias training, mentorship and sponsorship programs, and intentional targeted efforts, coupled with long-term assessments and accountability, will be essential in seeing improvements in representation.