9022 Background: Successful funding during training has long been recognized as a predictor for a career in academic medicine. 1 Among hematology and medical oncology fellows, the American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award (ASCO YIA) often serves as a fellow’s first attempt to obtain extramural research funding. Whether receipt of the ASCO YIA predicts for an academic career in hematology and medical oncology is unknown. Methods: A retrospective, exploratory analysis was conducted using data from 15 consecutive graduating classes from the fellowship program of a large destination cancer center. For each graduate, data regarding submission of an ASCO YIA proposal and the results of each submission were collected. To determine if receipt of the ASCO YIA correlated with an early career and retention in academia, we explored data on each graduate’s initial and current job placement. Correlation of each physician's area of subspecialization compared to the focus of the ASCO YIA proposal was also investigated. Results: From 2011-2025, a total of 214 graduates were identified, and 211 (98.6%) applied for the ASCO YIA. Eighty-three (39%) applicants were awarded the ASCO YIA. Among the entire cohort of applicants for the ASCO YIA, 157 (74%) graduates sought an initial career in academia. Of the fellows who were awarded the ASCO YIA, 74 of 83 (89%) started their careers in academia compared to 83 of 128 (65%) for those who were not awarded the ASCO YIA (odds ratio OR, 4.46; 95% confidence interval CI, 2.04 to 9.74; P = 0.0002). Of the fellows awarded the ASCO YIA, 66 of 83 (80%) currently remain in academia compared to 51 of 128 (40%) for those who were not awarded the ASCO YIA (OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 0.29 to 1.60; P = 0.0038). Of the fellows who were awarded the ASCO YIA and sought careers in academia, 69 of 74 (93%) began their academic career in the same subspecialty as the focus of their ASCO YIA proposal, and 59 of 66 (89%) remain in that subspecialty. Conclusions: Among applicants for the ASCO YIA, recipients are more likely than non-recipients to begin careers in academic hematology and medical oncology positions and to remain in academia. In addition, early funding through the ASCO YIA predicts for retention of academic hematologists/oncologists in their subspecialty of early research and funding. These results emphasize the need for enhanced funding to support these awards with a goal of promoting early careers in academic hematology and medical oncology. To further validate these results, a multi-institutional analysis is planned. Reference: 1. Brass LF, Akabas MH, Burnley LD, Engman DM, Wiley CA, Andersen OS. Are MD-PhD programs meeting their goals? An analysis of career choices made by graduates of 24 MD-PhD programs. Acad Med. 2010;85(4):692–701.
Cataldo et al. (Thu,) studied this question.