A couple of quick questions about rad onc

[San_Juan_Sun]

Sorry for posting a message that is probably posted a thousand times, so please forgive me.

I'm a first year DO student, and due to some personal reasons I'll be practicing medicine in a rural environment that is really beginning to grow. I've got several medical contacts in the area, who all tell me that this place is just begging for any kind of medical personnel, especially specialists. To make a long story short, whatever I decide to specialize in, I've got some fertile ground to start a practice in at home. However, because of the rural nature of where I'm at (50K citizens, 110K in the county) I was wondering a bit:

1. After completing a rad onc residency, what are the prospects for practicing outside of academic medicine? Because of the infrastructure required to practice rad one, is it possible for a solo practitioner or small group to buy the needed equipment, etc?

2. How competitive is rad onc? I've read the threads on this board, so I know that there is some degree of difficulty matching. Is it equally difficult as ENT, ortho, derm, etc? Also, what about DO students? Bear in mind that I have research under my belt, and will be doing more this summer, plus electives during 3rd/4th years. My grades thus far are also very good, and I'll be taking the USMLE.

3. Lastly, would you categorize rad onc as being more "procedural" than heme/onc? If you are interested in both fields, what would make you choose one over the other?

In any case, thanks for suffering through another one of those "what is rad onc" posts. Any answers are greatly appreciated.

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[QED]

It is more competitive than all the mentioned fields except for perhaps Derm (comprable). Being a DO will make it very very difficult to match. I've heard that a DO has not matched in the field for years (check this stat out to be sure). Yes, it is more procedural than heme onc. I wish you luck and why don't you call/email a few residency directors and ask for their opinion concerning entrance as a DO.

 

[stephew]

There are DOs in rad onc. In fact a candidate for the ASTRO presidency was a DO a year or so ago. Its harder for DOs as IMGs now that its so competitive, definitely.

SPecifically
1. After completing a rad onc residency, what are the prospects for practicing outside of academic medicine? Because of the infrastructure required to practice rad one, is it possible for a solo practitioner or small group to buy the needed equipment, etc?

You generally need to be in a group even a small one. I should say that you are going to need patients too; if you expect only 10 patients or so on treatment at any one time, I dont know if you'd be able to make it.

2. How competitive is rad onc? I've read the threads on this board, so I know that there is some degree of difficulty matching. Is it equally difficult as ENT, ortho, derm, etc? Also, what about DO students? Bear in mind that I have research under my belt, and will be doing more this summer, plus electives during 3rd/4th years. My grades thus far are also very good, and I'll be taking the USMLE.

I agree its as difficult as derm right now. The DO thing will be an issue but doesnt necessarily count you out.

3. Lastly, would you categorize rad onc as being more "procedural" than heme/onc? If you are interested in both fields, what would make you choose one over the other?

Yes its more procedural especially if you are in a practice on your own. How to choose? Well heme onc is a field on internal medicine. You would be seeing also hematologic patients (which in a small practicfe can sizeablly increase your patient load). Rad onc is as you say more procedural; in private practice there is a tendency to see more palliative cases than definitive cases but that needn't always be true. You might do impants etc which is procedural and technique wise its more "surgical" in thinking and approach than heme onc.
Youll get to see really once you do electives; nothing beats that for real understanding.
Good luck.