Author: Seth Amofa, Erli Chen, Samuel A. Einstein, Ekinadoese Imudia Frias, Nupur Karmaker, Yinus Kawthara, Dulguun Myagmarsuren, Travis C. Salzillo, Joseph Weygand, Afua A. Yorke π¨βπ¬
Affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology and Applied Science, Dartmouth Health, University of Washington, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Cheshire Medical Center, Dartmouth College, Penn State College of Medicine, Dept. of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Gono Bishwabidyalay, Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine π
Purpose: Recent developments in the medical physics job market have made it increasingly difficult for radiotherapy centers, particularly in rural areas, to recruit qualified therapeutic medical physicists. While residency programs have enhanced training standards, the residency mandate has reduced the pool of board-eligible candidates, and its geographic impact remains unclear. By centralizing residency training in urban areas, this requirement may have worsened recruitment challenges in rural regions. This study analyzes the geographic distribution of medical physics residency programs and compares it to the current job market.
Methods: The geographic distribution of therapeutic medical physics residencies and the job market were analyzed using a combined approach. Data on residency positions were obtained from the CAMPEP website and a spreadsheet provided by the AAPM Students and Trainee Subcommittee. Job market characterization integrated data from AAPM website postings (9/12/2024 to 12/31/2024) and institutions with Varian linear accelerators identified via Varianβs Treatment Locator application. Population data for each city was sourced from the 2023 U.S. Census, and cities were categorized as small towns (<50,000), small cities (50,000β100,000), medium-sized cities (100,000β500,000), large cities (500,000β1,000,000), and mega cities (>1,000,000). A chi-square test assessed whether distributions of residency positions and job openings differed significantly.
Results: Small towns and small cities host 8.4% and 9.6% of residency spots (N=166), respectively, despite accounting for 33.6% and 19.1% of jobs (N=577). Large cities and mega cities, with only 11.6% and 6.4% of job openings, respectively, account for 21.0% and 27.7% of residency spots. The chi-square test indicated a significant mismatch between the distributions of residency positions and job openings (ΟΒ² = 97.37, p<0.0001).
Conclusion: The disproportionate concentration of residency programs in urban areas differs from job market demands, highlighting structural imbalances that exacerbate recruitment challenges in rural regions. Exploring solutions may help mitigate these disparities over time.