Jh. Sunshine et al., GRADUATES SPEAK - THE EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE OF 1995 GRADUATES OF DIAGNOSTIC-RADIOLOGY AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY TRAINING-PROGRAMS, Radiology, 203(3), 1997, pp. 695-704
PURPOSE: To determine the initial employment experience of 1995 gradua
tes of radiology programs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was
mailed to all graduates of radiation oncology programs and to a strati
fied, random sample of 600 graduates of diagnostic radiology programs.
The final response rate was 66%. RESULTS: After graduation, 4%-10% of
graduates worked for a period as locum tenens, worked in a job unrela
ted to radiology, or were unemployed. Immediate postgraduation unemplo
yment was 2%-5%; 7-12 months later, it was less than 0.5%. Median actu
al salary was approximately equal to median expected salary. Radiation
oncology fellowship graduates often had poorer outcomes. Almost half
of the graduates with posttraining employment had a job with at least
one characteristic regarded as unfavorable by some commentators (most
commonly, undesirable location or no opportunity to become a partner),
and at least one-fifth had and disliked such a characteristic. Geogra
phic constraints, including the need to find employment for a spouse o
r companion, did not adversely affect employment outcome. CONCLUSION:
Eventual unemployment was low, and starting salaries have not collapse
d. Generally, the implications of job characteristics are best assesse
d by monitoring trends, but the prevalence of non-partnership track em
ployment may well have increased.