The effectiveness of the Ivan H. Smith Memorial Studentships program on encouraging medical students to pursue a career in radiation oncology

Kate Barrett; Nisha Mistry; Charles Hayter; Peter Poldre; Marilynne Henry; Sandra Gardner

doi:10.1080/08858190802432992

The effectiveness of the Ivan H. Smith Memorial Studentships program on encouraging medical students to pursue a career in radiation oncology

J Cancer Educ. 2008;23(4):226-9. doi: 10.1080/08858190802432992.

Authors

Kate Barrett¹, Nisha Mistry, Charles Hayter, Peter Poldre, Marilynne Henry, Sandra Gardner

Affiliation

¹ University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. kate.barrett@utoronto.ca

PMID: 19058070
DOI: 10.1080/08858190802432992

Abstract

Background: Founded in 1963, the Ivan H. Smith Memorial Studentship (ISMS) is a summer program that familiarizes students with the work of several cancer centers and aims to attract medical students into oncology.

Methods: In this study, we attempted to evaluate the impact of the ISMS Program on career choice in radiation oncology (RO).

Results: There were 5.9 times as many ISMS recipients from 1971 to 1981 who completed training in RO compared to the number of graduates exiting post-MD training in RO in 1989.

Conclusion: Although few former ISMS students entered RO, the ISMS encourages medical students into this field.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Career Choice*
Cohort Studies
Education, Medical, Graduate*
Fellowships and Scholarships
Humans
Internship and Residency
Program Evaluation / methods*
Radiation Oncology / education*
Students, Medical / psychology*