If you hold it off-hours, will they come? results from a feasibility project intended to stimulate interest in the physician-investigator career path among medical oncology trainees

Background. An endangered species, the physician-scientist faces challenges in oncology. The authors thus implemented a series of voluntary off-hours sessions on academic development for their trainees. Methods. Numerous workday interruptions among trainees led the authors to conclude that off-hours sessions would be preferable. Thus, this feasibility project was conducted. All 34 trainees were invited to a session and were surveyed thereafter. An attendance rate of 34% was to be a success. Results. Seventy percent of trainees attended, and over 90% said they would do so again. Write-in comments were mostly favorable. Conclusions. Off-hours sessions to discuss academic career development are feasible among medical oncology trainees.