A historical perspective of the radiation oncology workforce and ongoing initiatives to impact recruitment and retention

The field of radiation oncology has evolved into an exceptionally technologically driven and multi-disciplinary discipline over the last two decades. This specialty of medicine is one that requires not only the command of highly complex modalities but also the assembly of a competent and expertly skilled team of medical professionals. Although the profession has grown tremendously in the past years, the workforce has not been able to meet the demands of the practice. A significant shortage of radiation therapists, dosimetrists, and oncology nurses exists in the United States today and will almost certainly increase in severity over the next several years. A similar crisis has been seen in several other countries-most notably Canada and Australia and has contributed to prolonged delays in cancer treatment for many patients. (C) 2004 American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.