Mayo Clinic Global Oncology Fellowship: Development and Implementation of a Novel 2-Year Multidisciplinary Training Program for Oncologists from Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Abstract

Cancer is set to become the leading worldwide cause of premature death and mortality will be disproportionately greater in low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC) due to limitations in physical resources and oncology specialists. To address unmet workforce and educational needs, the Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic developed the Global Oncology Fellowship, a 2-year multidisciplinary oncology training program for practicing physicians from LMIC. The fellowship was developed through collaboration with multiple institutional departments and external stakeholders. Eligible fellows are graduates of a recognized international medical school who have completed oncology training in a LMIC and confirm intent to practice in a LMIC. During the 2-year program, fellows rotate through Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Palliative Care, Diagnostic Radiology, radiation dosimetry, research, and leadership development. The program design is flexible and can be tailored to fit the trainee's clinical needs and interests and focuses on malignancies and technologies that are common in LMIC. The Global Oncology Fellowship was successfully established and supported by benefactor funds. Recruitment of the first trainee faced challenges related to COVID pandemic, completion of medical licensing exams, and obtaining a United States visa. The first fellow started in February 2023 with training ongoing. With the formal approval of the Global Oncology Fellowship in 2024, the program is recruiting for the 2025-2027 academic years. Short- and-long term assessments of the program are ongoing. The Mayo Clinic Global Oncology Fellowship is a multi-disciplinary training program developed to address the educational needs of oncologists in low-and-middle income countries. We hope to contribute to the number of highly trained oncology specialists in LMIC, who will go on to be leaders in clinical care, education, and research.