Dr. Mill Etienne has long been spearheading groundbreaking work in the area of health equity. As detailed in a recently published research report, “Predictors of Interest in Radiation Oncology: The Effect of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Other Diversity Measures,” Dr. Etienne and his colleagues sought to understand why the incidence of women and individuals underrepresented in medicine (URiM) consistently is lower in radiation oncology (RO) than among the U.S. population, graduates of medical school, as well as applicants for oncology fellowships. They did so by seeking to identify what individuals may sense before considering a medical school education, as those barriers can hinder one’s belief in their ability to access and succeed in medical and healthcare careers.
The study was conducted via a survey of matriculating New York Medical College students that evaluated demographic data of those students, their awareness of and interest in oncologic fields, and their sense of barriers to RO.
The results were highly illustrative of the state of health equity on the practitioner side in that they showed, among other findings, that less than twenty-five percent of respondents had ever considered an RO career for many reasons, including that they need greater levels of education, mentorships, and clinical exposure.
Notably, all races and ethnicities scored a similar propensity to pursue a RO career, which represents a marked difference from the current state of the RO workforce.
Among the most poignant responses in the study was the critical nature of education, mentors, and direct RO exposure. The results of the study underscore the extent to which support of female and URiM students is needed both before and during medical school. The research publication can be accessed here.
