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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Oncologist

💰 $220,000 - $450,000

HealthcarePhysicianOncologyMedical

🎯 Role Definition

An Oncologist (Medical Oncologist/Hematology‑Oncologist) is responsible for diagnosing and managing patients with malignant and pre‑malignant hematologic and solid tumor diseases, developing individualized treatment plans that incorporate systemic therapy and multidisciplinary input, leading or participating in tumor boards, and advancing care through clinical trials, quality programs, teaching and research. This role requires mastery of chemotherapy protocols, toxicity management, survivorship planning, and strong communication with patients, families and the care team.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Hematology‑Oncology Fellowship (ABIM/ABPN eligible)
  • Internal Medicine Residency with oncology research experience
  • Clinical research fellowship in medical oncology or subspecialty oncology

Advancement To:

  • Senior Attending Oncologist / Division Lead
  • Medical Director, Oncology Services
  • Clinical Professor or Academic Section Chief

Lateral Moves:

  • Clinical Trials/Research Director
  • Palliative Care or Supportive Oncology Specialist
  • Oncology Quality & Safety Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Deliver comprehensive, patient‑centered oncology care: evaluate patients with new or recurrent malignancies, interpret diagnostic studies (histopathology, molecular testing, imaging), establish staging, and create evidence‑based, individualized treatment plans that integrate systemic therapy, surgery and radiation where appropriate.
  • Prescribe, order and oversee administration of systemic therapies including cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted agents, immunotherapies and supportive medications; verify dosing, infusion schedules and verify renal/hepatic dose adjustments to ensure safety and efficacy.
  • Monitor and manage acute and chronic treatment toxicities and complications (neutropenia, sepsis risk, infusion reactions, organ toxicities), provide urgent inpatient and outpatient oncology care and coordinate rapid referrals to emergency or subspecialty services as necessary.
  • Lead and actively participate in multidisciplinary tumor boards and case conferences, presenting complex cases, recommending coordinated plans of care, and documenting consensus recommendations to optimize outcomes.
  • Evaluate molecular diagnostics and genomic testing reports; integrate biomarkers and precision oncology data into therapeutic decision‑making and explain implications to patients and care teams.
  • Enroll, manage and oversee patients in institutional and cooperative group clinical trials; ensure protocol adherence, obtain informed consent, manage data capture and report adverse events according to GCP and IRB requirements.
  • Provide survivorship planning and long‑term follow‑up for cancer survivors: develop surveillance schedules, manage late effects of therapy and coordinate rehabilitative and psychosocial resources.
  • Provide end‑of‑life and palliative care planning, including goals‑of‑care discussions, symptom control, coordination with hospice, and documentation of advanced directives when appropriate.
  • Perform and supervise oncology‑relevant bedside procedures as needed (e.g., bone marrow biopsy/aspiration, central line management instructions) or ensure access to procedural specialists.
  • Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant clinical documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR/EHR), including treatment plans, chemotherapy orders, informed consents and progress notes for continuity of care and billing compliance.
  • Serve as a clinical resource and consultant to primary care providers, surgical and radiation oncology colleagues, pathology, radiology and allied health professionals to ensure coordinated patient management.
  • Participate in quality improvement, patient safety initiatives and morbidity & mortality reviews to drive measurable improvements in chemotherapy safety, infection prevention, and patient experience.
  • Supervise, mentor and teach medical students, residents and fellows through bedside teaching, formal lectures and research mentorship; contribute to faculty development and educational program design.
  • Provide community outreach, education and cancer screening initiatives; represent the institution at professional meetings, community forums and clinical education events to promote early detection and care pathways.
  • Ensure regulatory compliance and credentialing for chemotherapy administration, hazardous drug handling and oncology services; maintain required certifications for chemotherapy safety and radiation safety collaboration.
  • Collaborate with pharmacy to develop, review and optimize chemotherapy order sets, clinical pathways and supportive care protocols to reduce errors and standardize best practices.
  • Lead or contribute to oncology research projects including investigator‑initiated studies, retrospective analyses, translational collaborations and peer‑reviewed publications to advance clinical practice and institutional reputation.
  • Participate in hospital and departmental committees focused on cancer program development, clinical operations, scheduling, and performance metrics (e.g., time to treatment, clinical trial accrual).
  • Manage practice‑level financial and operational responsibilities, including productivity monitoring, resource utilization, and participation in value‑based care initiatives to enhance sustainability and patient access.
  • Provide culturally competent care, assess social determinants that affect treatment adherence, coordinate financial counseling and social work services, and develop individualized plans to mitigate barriers to care such as transportation or affordability.
  • Maintain continuous professional development through board certification, maintenance of certification activities, CME, and participation in oncology professional societies and guideline updates.
  • Support peer review, clinical case audits and utilization review processes, and respond to patient complaints or adverse events with transparent communication and corrective action plans.

Secondary Functions

  • Collaborate with clinical operations and nursing leadership to optimize infusion center workflows, nurse staffing models and patient scheduling to maximize safety and throughput.
  • Contribute to the development and refinement of clinical pathways, standard order sets and institutional guidelines for disease‑specific management and supportive care.
  • Assist in the design and implementation of patient education materials, survivorship care plans and digital health tools to improve patient engagement and adherence.
  • Participate in data collection efforts for cancer registries and quality reporting (e.g., NCCN adherence metrics, accreditation bodies), ensuring accurate case capture and reporting.
  • Mentor junior faculty in grant writing, protocol development and navigating institutional review board (IRB) processes to strengthen the research pipeline.
  • Actively participate in recruitment, onboarding and credentialing activities for new oncology providers, including privileging and competency assessments.
  • Support telemedicine initiatives and hybrid care models to expand access to expert oncology consultations and follow‑up care.
  • Contribute to marketing and physician liaison activities to grow service lines and community awareness of available oncology programs.
  • Review and adapt to EMR enhancements and clinical decision support tools that affect oncology ordering, alerts and documentation workflows.
  • Engage in institutional planning for growth, capital projects (e.g., infusion center expansion) and strategic initiatives related to cancer care delivery.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Board‑certified or board‑eligible in Hematology & Oncology or Medical Oncology with active state medical license and DEA registration.
  • Expert knowledge of systemic oncology therapies (chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy) and evidence‑based regimens for common solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
  • Proficiency in interpreting pathology, immunohistochemistry and molecular/genomic testing reports and integrating results into personalized treatment plans.
  • Strong experience with clinical trial conduct: informed consent, protocol adherence, site management and safety reporting per GCP and local IRB policies.
  • Competence in chemotherapy ordering and safe handling protocols, infusion reaction management, dosing calculations, and familiarity with ambulatory infusion center operations.
  • Advanced clinical skills in symptom management, palliative care principles, and managing complications such as febrile neutropenia, tumor lysis syndrome and venous thromboembolism.
  • Experience with electronic medical records (e.g., Epic, Cerner) for documentation, order entry, chemotherapy treatment plans and quality reporting.
  • Knowledge of oncology coding and reimbursement fundamentals, including outpatient chemotherapy billing and episode‑based care models.
  • Basic procedural skills relevant to oncology (e.g., bone marrow biopsy) or demonstrated ability to coordinate procedural needs with interventional teams.
  • Research skills including protocol development, data analysis basics, manuscript preparation and use of clinical trial management systems.
  • Familiarity with national oncology guidelines and staging systems (AJCC staging, RECIST criteria, NCCN/ESMO guidelines).

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional patient‑centered communication: ability to explain complex diagnoses and treatment options with empathy and clarity to patients and families.
  • Strong multidisciplinary collaboration and team leadership skills; able to lead tumor boards and coordinate cross‑disciplinary care.
  • Clinical judgment and decisive problem solving in high‑acuity and complex cases.
  • Organizational skills and time management to balance clinic, inpatient duties, research and administrative responsibilities.
  • Teaching and mentorship aptitude with a commitment to training the next generation of oncologists.
  • Emotional resilience, cultural humility and sensitivity to support patients through serious illness and end‑of‑life care.
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution skills to align stakeholders around care plans and institutional priorities.
  • Continuous improvement mindset, willingness to engage in quality improvement and implement practice changes based on outcomes data.
  • Adaptability to evolving clinical evidence, treatment modalities and healthcare delivery models including telehealth.
  • Professionalism, ethical practice and commitment to confidentiality and informed consent principles.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO); completion of an ACGME‑accredited residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Hematology‑Oncology or Medical Oncology.

Preferred Education:

  • Fellowship training in a subspecialty (e.g., genitourinary, thoracic, breast oncology, hematologic malignancies) or additional research fellowship; advanced degree (MPH, MS Clinical Research) a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Internal Medicine
  • Hematology & Oncology
  • Medical Oncology
  • Clinical Research / Translational Medicine

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 0–8+ years post‑fellowship clinical experience; many hiring settings seek 1–5 years of independent practice experience with demonstrated clinical and research productivity.

Preferred:

  • Board certification or eligibility in Hematology & Oncology with active medical licensure.
  • Prior experience managing outpatient infusion clinics and inpatient oncology service.
  • Documented clinical trial participation and research output (protocols, abstracts, peer‑reviewed publications).
  • Experience teaching residents/fellows and participating in multidisciplinary oncologic care pathways.
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