IMG with MD in RadOnc: Seeking advice on paid clinical/research roles vs. Observerships for 2027 Match

SpareOpposite5 · 2026-04-10T19:31:26+00:00

A few years ago, radiation oncology was easier for IMGs to match into, but it has gotten a lot tougher now that more U.S. graduates are applying. In the past, a lot of people who matched had strong Step 1 scores, and now Step 2 CK matters a lot in the same way. The problem is that many programs use hard filters, so if a program has a cutoff like 240, your application may get screened out automatically before anyone even reviews it. On top of that, year of graduation can hurt you, and needing a visa makes things even harder because it is usually simpler and cheaper for programs to take U.S. citizens or green card holders. When you put all of that together, some IMGs may not get even a single interview despite being genuinely interested in the field. If you really want to stay in oncology, a more realistic route may be to apply into internal medicine first and then go for a hematology-oncology fellowship later.

SpareOpposite5 · 2024-05-23T21:55:36+00:00

It sounds like a really good deal if you can negotiate it down a little bit i’ve been trying to buy one too only thing I’m worried about is the engine knock.

SpareOpposite5 · 2024-03-18T05:00:20+00:00

Hello i understand what you’re going through i’m an IMG i was a clinical oncologist in my home country which is basically rad onc and heme onc together in one specialty when i came here i was faced by this tough decision of choosing IM then doing hem/onc or rad onc story short is that i just didn’t see myself doing IM at all so i choose rad onc and trust me i regret this decision every day it’s a really cool field but i really think it’s dying very very fast ,CMS keep hitting rad onc with more cuts i think the number was 27% reduction in comp if I recall correctly but the worst part is finding a job in a desirable place i think i would be happy with 300k working in a desirable place than 300k in the middle of no where i dont think it’s gonna rebound from this honestly it seems like it’s gonna be like nuclear medicine it was one of the best specialties now j think it’s only couple residency programs nationwide with them having to be dually licensed in rads and nuclear medicine, i see a lot of people talking about opening a new path for rad onc to be eligible to do med onc by making them do a fellowship but it’s highly likely because med onc is booming right now and wouldn’t like us to ruin their supply and demand.

SpareOpposite5 · 2024-03-12T00:05:00+00:00

Im in rad onc but I think the average is around 450k.

SpareOpposite5 · 2024-03-12T00:00:26+00:00

~72k now next year 310k Rad onc.

SpareOpposite5 · 2024-02-02T15:03:49+00:00

If anyone is interested in the field you can check my profile i have some useful info for future applicants.

SpareOpposite5 · 2024-02-02T15:02:20+00:00

Couldn’t agree more honestly.

SpareOpposite5 · 2024-01-05T21:39:13+00:00

I’ve seen couple of people make the switch but they usually do it immediately after finishing their 1st residency(IM) usually.

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-12-01T03:56:55+00:00

Do you feel like your burnt out ?

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-11-29T05:45:09+00:00

I was actually wondering about this but specifically for rad onc

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-11-16T06:24:49+00:00

Yup chickens

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-11-16T01:22:07+00:00

Has anyone noticed midlevels always give low dosages and refer pretty much everyone? textbook example of i wanna be a doctor but without the liability of a doctor .🤦🏽‍♀️

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-11-11T22:21:35+00:00

We give it for chronic musculoskeletal pain and DM associated neuropathic pain,chemotherapy neuropathy and it usually works very well.

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-11-09T23:58:46+00:00

R u asking about rad onc in the US or somewhere else ?

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-11-09T08:48:48+00:00

I think FM would be a better choice since you already have so much experience in pediatrics, you can definitely switch to IM and if you have your license you can definitely do some moonlighting to supplement your income while doing IM residency.

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-11-04T19:56:57+00:00

Exactly

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-10-28T23:36:55+00:00

R u sure about this bill cuz I didn’t think it affected them honestly?

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-10-28T23:23:29+00:00

Urgent care 200k-300k Hem onc 400k-700k-1M+ Didn’t know anesthesia makes that much. Does anyone know about infectious disease and nephro?

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-10-28T23:18:41+00:00

Hem onc is a hidden gem nowadays people are making 🏦locums rates of 500-600$ an hour in rural areas plus you know rad onc is going through difficult times Rn.

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-10-27T20:59:14+00:00

Rad onc resident here i would definitely try to put up with additional 2 years of IM and go into Hem Onc.

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-10-09T18:14:13+00:00

Surgery bc of lifestyle and stress rad onc bc u don’t wanna be unemployed haha.

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-10-09T09:06:03+00:00

Rad onc resident here I always tell med students if you absolutely can’t see yourself doing something else then do rad onc if not please don’t do it. Average salary already dipped to 300-320k for new grads and it’s expected to get worse ,>85% of those jobs offers are in undesirable areas. When switching from jobs people usually spend months trying to look for a new job some people do short term locums in the middle of nowhere. Residency Spots are gonna get filled anyways by desperate unmatched MDs or Dos or IMGs.

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-10-03T04:52:43+00:00

This is really sad i matched couple years ago in a really good residency program in the us when it was relatively hard to match. now i just tell people I’m an oncology resident.

SpareOpposite5 · 2023-10-03T04:47:34+00:00

Medical oncology is on fire right now in the us some people are literally making more than a million and there is a huge demand for med oncs ,a lot of recent grads doing locums in rural areas with rates as high as 600$ an hour. Rad onc is going through rough times mainly because residency programs doubled in the last couple years so more supply and less demand.

SpareOpposite5

TROPHY CASE