Cancer Therapy AdvisorAbout 20% of Oncologists Studied Left Patient-Facing Positions Between 2015 and 2022

Oncologists transitioning to industry roles—a significant trend seen in recent years that may have profound implications for patient care.

A recent JCO Oncology Practice study reveals a surprising shift in the field of oncology. It suggests that a significant 20% of US oncologists transitioned away from patient-facing roles between 2015 and 2022. To ascertain this, researchers tapped into the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ national provider database. This database helped identify oncologists who ceased billing during the specified period, marking their shift away from direct patient care.

From the 16,870 oncologists examined, 21% had moved away from patient-facing roles by 2022. Interestingly, these included oncologists specializing in hematology/oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, gynecologic oncology, and surgical oncology. Attrition rates differed based on experience level, with oncologists having over 30 years of experience showing a notably higher attrition rate (45%) than those with less than 30 years (11%).

Diving further, the researchers conducted a subanalysis on oncologists who left patient-facing roles. Their data reveals that 26% of these oncologists transitioned to pharmaceutical and biotechnology roles. Additionally, this move towards industry roles correlated with previous receipt of industry funding, pointing towards a possible link between industry funding and career shifts.

This fascinating study also unveils a clear gender trend. Men demonstrated a slightly higher attrition rate (22%) than women (18%). Notably, oncologists who transitioned to industry roles received a median of $91,990 in industry research funding in 2015, whereas those who did not make such a move received a median of $34,475.

Ultimately, the researchers underline the need for strategies to retain skilled oncologists in clinical medicine. They also hint at a modest correlation between receiving industry payments and transitioning to biopharmaceuticals.