If You Hold It Off-Hours, Will They Come? Results from a Feasibility Project Intended to Stimulate Interest in the Physician-Investigator Career Path Among Medical Oncology Trainees

Background. An “endangered species,” the physician-scientist faces challenges in oncology. The authors thus implemented a series of voluntary off-hours sessions on academic development for their trainees. Methods. Numerous workday interruptions among trainees led the authors to conclude that off-hours sessions would be preferable. Thus, this feasibility project was conducted. All 34 trainees were invited to a session and were surveyed thereafter. An attendance rate of ≥34% was to be a “success.” Results. Seventy percent of trainees attended, and over 90% said they would do so again. Write-in comments were mostly favorable. Conclusions. Off-hours sessions to discuss academic career development are feasible among medical oncology trainees.