Multiple Chapters, One Career: Using Career Development Plans to Find Success and Satisfaction in Academic Oncology Across the Career Spectrum

Oncology-trained physicians—including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and surgical oncologists—can pursue a diverse set of career paths. However, with increasing concerns about physicians moving away from the path of academic oncology, it is critical that those in academia feel supported. Career growth, promotion, and satisfaction depend upon finding a work environment that can foster development, but at the same time, individual physicians must know how to organize their goals to best advocate for their needs and set themselves up for success. In this manuscript, we review key factors and different tools that physicians can use to help shape their career through its multiple phases within academic oncology. Although each physician's career trajectory is unique, academic oncology consists of several core career niches. Across these niches, there are key domains for success including the development of clinical expertise, skill development, scholarship and grantsmanship, professional development (mentorship, committee work and national society participation, and leadership), and time management. Career development plans (CDP) are one valuable tool to help organize short- and long-term goals within these key domains. Best optimized with the assistance of a mentorship network, CDPs should continue to be updated as careers evolve. When used appropriately, they can help support academic promotion and, most importantly, help define and sustain career satisfaction.