Profile of the Oncology Physician Workforce and the Characteristics of Attrition

Abstract

PURPOSE To determine the prevalence of attrition and the frequency of transition from a primarily clinical role to an industry-related role among oncology physicians. METHODS We tracked yearly Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) billing between 2015 and 2022 to estimate attrition of oncology physicians. A subanalysis of a random sample of 300 oncologists with fewer than 30 years of experience and who had stopped billing were used to conduct a more thorough assessment of current employment. Employment was primarily found through LinkedIn; otherwise a secondary search was done through a Google search. Type of employer was categorized as industry (pharmaceutical or biotechnology), nonindustry (academic/clinical/government), others, or no information found. The results are provided separately by sex. RESULTS Of the 16,870 oncologists who billed to CMS in 2015, 3,558 (21%) had stopped billing by 2022. Among a randomly selected 300 oncologists, we found current employment information for 223 (74%); 78 of the 223 (35%) were most recently employed within industry. Among all CMS-billing oncologists, 30% (5,126 of 16,870) identified as female. Women stopped billing at the rate of 18% (929 of 5,126) by 2022. Surgical oncologists had the lowest overall attrition (17%, 149 of 855). Radiation oncologists had 21% (881 of 4,244) overall attrition and 7% (5 of 71) sampled attrition to industry. CONCLUSION By 2022, 21% of oncology physicians billing to CMS in 2015 had stopped. 78 of the 300 sampled physicians were found to be working in industry. In total, 1 in 17 oncologists (5%) moved to industry over a 5-year period.

Pharmaceutical Industry Payments to Medical Oncologists in the Netherlands: Trends and Patterns Provided by an Open-Access Transparency Data Set

“…14 In addition, when assessed for practicing oncologists in the United States, 5% moved to working for pharma over a 5-year period. 15…”

“…14 In addition, when assessed for practicing oncologists in the United States, 5% moved to working for pharma over a 5-year period. 15 One of the predictive factors for regulatory approval and guideline incorporation is financial conflict of interest (fCOI) with pharma. 16 Although pharma provides access to research funding and stimulates scientific advances and development of novel therapeutics, fCOI with pharma has the potential to influence decision making at different levels in the drug development and regulatory process.…”

For Those About to MOC, We Salute You

“…However, the degree of dissatisfaction among physicians coupled with projected workforce shortages and high levels of burnout seems highly troubling. 9,10 Just as there is a public interest in ensuring knowledgeable physicians, there is public interest in making sure that regulation in this area matches the needs and goals of a robust and competent medical workforce. I am not an expert in MOC policy, but as I hear the buzz among colleagues and as I personally approach 20 years in practice (and my third 10-year certification examination), this seemed an appropriate topic to address in this space.…”