Professional Challenges for United States Hematology/Oncology Trainees during COVID-19

Abstract

COVID-19 has been devastating for patients with cancer. In this commentary, we chronicle the pandemic’s downstream impacts on United States hematology/oncology trainees in terms of professional development and career advancement. These include loss of access to clinical electives and protocol workshops, delays in research approval and execution, mentor shortages due to academic burnout, and obstacles with career transitions (most notably the post-fellowship job search). While certain silver linings from the pandemic have undoubtedly emerged, continued progress against COVID-19 will be essential to fully overcome the professional challenges it has created for the future hematology/oncology workforce.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• fellowship
• trainees
• medical education

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge their patients during the pandemic as well as their mentors who persevered as excellent clinicians and teachers.

Author contribution

All authors contributed to manuscript conceptualization and manuscript content. RB wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and all authors provided edits and agreed upon the final version of the manuscript.

Declaration of interest

Dr. Banerjee: Consulting: BMS/Celgene, Genentech/Roche, Janssen Oncology, Sanofi Pasteur, SparkCures; Research funding: Pack Health. Dr. Kareff: Research funding: GMaP Region 3. Dr. Desai: Consulting: Sanofi. Dr. Tsang: Stock ownership, AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Poseida Therapeutics. Dr. Velazquez: Consulting: AstraZeneca; Honoraria: Curio Science, ObR Oncology, MD Outlook, CME Outfitters, MJH Life Sciences, ASCO; Travel: DAVA Oncology, BioAscend, ASCO; Stock ownership: Corbus Pharmaceuticals; Research Funding: National Institute on Aging (under award P30AG015272), National Cancer Institute (under award U54 CA242646-04S2). The remaining authors report no disclosures.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.