GRADUATES SPEAK - THE EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE OF 1995 GRADUATES OF DIAGNOSTIC-RADIOLOGY AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY TRAINING-PROGRAMS

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.