ASTRO 2024 is just around the corner and now’s a great time to start planning your meeting schedule. Whether you’re a junior resident or working toward your FASTRO application, the Annual Meeting has programming available to expand your horizons in all facets of radiation oncology practice.
ASTRO has maintained a continued focus on early career members, particularly in recent years. ASTRO’s Early Career Committee (ECC) formed two years ago and works on developing resources to support early career members in all practice settings, from academic to community practice. Led by Austin Sim, MD, and Anna Paulsson, MD, the ECC seeks to bridge the gap between the amazing ARRO committees and other ASTRO committees, while targeting one of the most critical periods of career development for a radiation oncologist.
Last year, the Annual Meeting featured the first-ever Early Career Lounge, early-career focused Speed Mentoring, and ECC educational sessions. This year the momentum continues at ASTRO24, with lots of amazing content relevant to early career members.
If the 2024 Annual Meeting seems overwhelming, there is no better place to start than with the ECC Journey Map, which will be available on site and online the week of the meeting. The fun starts as early as Saturday, where you can learn practical tools in taking on insurance hurdles in session EDU 03, Navigating Medical Insurance Delays and Denials. There are sessions that can help you expand your practice with the PRO 03 session to learn the fundamentals of the Business of Radiation Oncology or PRO 04 session to dive into benign radiotherapy. And don’t miss the Early Career Lounge in East Salon C. A variety of programming is scheduled for early career members in the Lounge in addition to providing a fun place for early career attendees to network. This year, the Early Career Committee will host an open committee meeting on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. All early career attendees are invited to attend. Be sure to take a selfie to let colleagues know that you are soaking up everything ASTRO 2024 has to offer!
Speed Mentoring sessions, also held in the Early Career Lounge, will be great opportunities to approach the movers and shakers in radiation oncology and gain the unique insights they hold. These leaders are not behind a podium with two minutes for questions – they are accessible to talk to in an informal, small group setting so you can learn from their experience! Another informal opportunity to interact is the Grant Writing Office hours which are offered Monday and Tuesday. Bring your draft Specific Aims and seek guidance from funded researchers about how to further your grant application.
The biggest highlight from the ECC has been led by James Bates, MD, the ECC Education Subcommittee Chair. While the scientific sessions are a highlight of the Annual Meeting, the ECC has worked diligently to ensure programming covers all aspects of a radiation oncologist’s practice. The not-to-be-missed session led by the ECC is EDU 36, What I Wish I Knew in the Early Career Period. It includes a session from a private practice expert on contract negotiations, a session on financial planning, and a session on navigating promotions processes at various career stages. Radiation oncologists can take away valuable lessons that go well beyond just the exam room. Stick around after that for the informal networking session with a cash bar in the Early Career Lounge with your friends and colleagues to build lasting bonds!
The ECC continues to be at the service of its membership and in the past months there have been several webinars such as “The Impact of ROCR on Your Future” and “The Power of Interdisciplinary Communication in a Busy Clinic” along with quarterly town-hall style committee meetings, a dedicated web page and a desire to hear your feedback. Don’t miss the new ECC quarterly newsletter and much more content to come in 2025!
To keep abreast of any updated programming changes at the Annual Meeting and other early career-focused posts, be sure to join the Early Career community on the ROhub!
