The number of oncology fellows choosing to pursue an academic career path is decreasing, according to a recent study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The study, which puts a spotlight on factors that fellows consider when choosing a career path, is concerning for those worried about the future of academic medicine in the United States.

Creating a smooth transition for patients from one cancer care setting to another is an important part of continuity of care. Although delivery of cancer care is improving, recent studies show that gaps still exist in the transition to palliative care. Oncology fellows can help bridge these gaps by enhancing their communication skills.

Although cultural factors such as age, gender, religion, or ethnic group can influence patients’ behaviors and attitudes toward cancer care, these differences can be minimized if physicians delve more deeply and ask patients open-ended questions, according to experts interviewed for this article.

At some point during training, oncology fellows will have to identify the career path they want to follow: private practice, academia, or industry. Finding the right fit largely has to do with identifying how they want to spend the bulk of their time, what their strengths and interests are, and how those strengths and interests align with the various career options.

When it comes to examinations, oncology fellows have been through the gamut: all the way from kindergarten spelling tests to the SATs, the MCATs, and the USMLE. But as training winds down, there’s one more exam to prepare for in order to become a fully fledged, practicing, board-certified oncologist: the oncology boards.

Oncology Fellow Advisor presents its Tribute series. In each segment, we remember a prominent thought leader who changed the face of oncology and paved the way for future legions of oncology fellows. In this issue, we remember and honor the work of Robert Buckman, MD, PhD.  

Sometimes the best advice comes from people who have years of experience under their belt. To gather some pearls of wisdom, Oncology Fellow Advisor talked to 2 seasoned oncologists. Cathy Eng, MD, is associate professor and associate director of the Colorectal Center, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Robin Zon, MD, is vice president and partner at Michiana Hematology-Oncology, PC, a practice with 15 oncologists and 6 locations in Indiana.

For many fellows, training to be an oncologist has been a trial by fire, especially when it comes to interpersonal issues in the hospital. Young oncologists often find themselves looking to senior faculty members while navigating the ins and outs of the hospital system, gaining the trust of patients and their families, and overcoming conflicts that arise. One group in Texas has developed an evidence-based model using a Socratic approach to fill this gap in training.