Articol susținut de S.N.O.M.R.

Daniel Sur^1,2, Cristina Lungulescu-Berisha³, Adelina Silvana Gheorghe⁴, Cristian Virgil Lungulescu⁵, Stefania Andreea Toma⁶, Eliza Maria Armeanu⁷, Raluca Ioana Mihaila^4,8, Elena Adriana Iovanescu⁴, Irina Mihaela Croitoru-Cazacu^8,9, Vlad Mihai Croitoru⁹, Radu Dragomir^10,11, Amir Hubeishie¹⁰, Vlad Lupu^10,11, Silvia Mosoiu^4,8, Daniel Dulf¹², Teodora Alexa-Stratulat^13,14, Simona Ruxandra Volovăț^13,14, Dana Lucia Stanculeanu⁸, Mihai Vasile Marinca^13,14, Amedeia Nita¹⁵, Laurentia Gales^4,8, Mircea Dragos Median¹⁶, Adina Croitoru^8,9, Serban Negru¹¹, Laura Mazilu¹⁷, Razvan-Ovidiu Curca¹⁸, Michael Schenker¹⁹, Vlad Adrian Afrasanie^13,14

1. Department of Medical Oncology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, 400012, Romania.
2. Department of Medical Oncology, The Oncology Institute Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă, Cluj-Napoca, 3400, Romania.
3. Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, 200349, Romania.
4. Department of Medical Oncology, Institute of Oncology "Prof. Dr. Al. Trestioreanu" Bucharest, Bucharest, 022328, Romania.
5. Department of Oncology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, 200349, Romania. cristilungulescu@yahoo.com.
6. Department of Medical Oncology, Ponderas Academic Hospital, Bucharest, 014142, Romania.
7. Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, 700115, Romania.
8. Department of Oncology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, 050474, Romania.
9. Department of Oncology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, 022328, Romania.
10. Oncology Department, Oncohelp Oncology Center, Timisoara, 300425, Romania.
11. Department of Oncology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, 300041, Romania.
12. Spitalul Clinic Municipal Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
13. Department of Medical Oncology-Radiation Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania.
14. Department of Medical Oncology, Regional Institute of Oncology, Iasi, Romania.
15. Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital City Ploiesti, Ploiești, Romania.
16. Donna Oncology, Filantropia Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
17. Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania.
18. Department of Medical Oncology, Elysee Hospital Alba Iulia, Alba, Romania.
19. Department of Oncology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, 200349, Romania.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-026-09006-z

Abstract:
Background/Objectives: Medical oncology is a young specialty in Romania, where early-career oncologists face challenges related to training, mentorship, and research. This study explored their professional status and needs to inform workforce development.
Methods:
An online survey was conducted between February and April 2025 among physicians under 40 years of age who were members of the Romanian National Society of Medical Oncology (SNOMR). The questionnaire (60 items) covered demographics, employment, mentorship, research, and professional development. Descriptive analysis was performed.
Results:
Of 456 eligible members, 169 responded (response rate: 37%). Most were residents based in oncology institutes or university hospitals. Job insecurity was common, with 57% on temporary contracts. Nearly all respondents (99%) had clinical duties, but only 21% engaged in research and 9% in teaching. Mentorship was inconsistently available (61% had a mentor), yet interest in structured programs was very high (88% for national and 87% for international initiatives). Research involvement was limited: 46% reported no activity, 85% lacked funding, and only 28% published in the past year. While over 80% expressed interest in fellowships or exchanges, only 16% had trained abroad. Most (85%) were ESMO members, but only half considered SNOMR support sufficient.
Conclusions:
Young oncologists in Romania are motivated but face significant barriers, including job instability, insufficient mentorship, and limited research opportunities. Expanding structured mentorship, ensuring protected research time, and strengthening international mobility are essential. Recent SNOMR initiatives represent important first steps toward addressing these gaps.
Background:
Medical oncology is a relatively young specialty that emerged in the 1960s. Major scientific societies, such as the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), have played a pivotal role in improving the quality of training, although the level of development has varied across countries (1). Engaging well-trained and highly motivated, early-career oncologists is essential to sustain the advancement of the field and ensure the delivery of high-quality care to patients with cancer (2). Notably, oncologists aged 40 or younger constitute a significant proportion of the profession; in 2016, 40% of ESMO members fell into this category (3) ). Romania, like other Eastern European countries, continues to face structural disparities compared to Western Europe, particularly in healthcare and education, although three decades of post-communist transformations have gradually improved health system performance and population health outcomes across the region (4). Within the medical field, oncology exemplifies these challenges (5). Medical oncology was only recently recognized as a distinct specialty in Romania, formally added to the national list of specialties in 2011 (6). According to the OECD 2025 report, Romania faces a significant shortage of oncologists, with only 4.4 oncologists per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022, compared to an EU average of 13.7 (7). These limitations have constrained both the number of trained specialists and the development of robust professional pathways, leaving the field underprepared to meet the growing national cancer burden (6). Over the past 15 years, rising cancer incidence has prompted health authorities to expand oncology training programs, resulting in a rapid increase in residents and specialists number (8, 9, 10, 11, 12). In parallel, the Romanian Society of Medical Oncology (SNOMR) has evolved into an active professional body, while economic improvements have created conditions more favorable for professional development (4, 13). Despite these advances, significant gaps remain between Eastern and Western Europe in training quality, job stability, research opportunities, and access to cutting-edge clinical practices. Eastern European oncologists consistently report lower job satisfaction, likely reflecting healthcare infrastructure disparities (14). Young oncologists om middle-income countries in particular face barriers to international collaboration, structured mentorship, research facilities, and career advancement. Addressing these inequities is critical for both professional development and improved cancer outcomes nationwide (15). To better understand these challenges and inform targeted interventions, the Romanian Young Oncologists Group, with the support of SNOMR, conducted a nationwide survey. This study aims to identify the professional challenges faced by early-career medical oncologists in Romania and to outline feasible strategies for aligning their training, employment stability, and career development with European standards.