Broadening the Tent with Intentional Spaces.

Representation matters. As a Latino, I did not see myself in the radiation oncology (rad-onc) workforce. Becoming someone I did not see elsewhere presented unique challenges and a sense of isolation as I struggled to find others who shared my experiences. Although the silver lining is the opportunity to chart new territory, when alone, it is hard to know whether you are making progress toward your destination.

American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) will soon announce new ROHub communities to provide virtual gathering spaces for radiation oncologists. For those unfamiliar, ROhub is ASTRO’s official online platform for collaboration and networking (https://rohub.astro.org/home). These communities yield manifold benefits—especially for underrepresented minorities—and having a virtual community for Latinx rad-oncs excites me. Latinx physicians are drastically underrepresented in radiation oncology at only 2% of the workforce, despite 15% of Americans identifying as Latinx. With 1 of every 50 radiation oncologists identifying as Latinx, our specialty ranks near the bottom of the top 20 largest medical specialties with respect to representation: There is much room for improvement.

A virtual space allows for mentorship of trainees and junior faculty seeking career advice, which could also serve as a resource to increase the pipeline of underrepresented minorities into our fields, considering Black and Latinx students are less likely to attend medical schools with affiliated rad-onc residency programs. Dedicated spaces also provide mental health support: the stress and invisible labor that more commonly burden diverse faculty are well documented. Latinx doctors can benefit from a community in which we can share our common experiences, interests, stories, and struggles. For early-stage underrepresented investigators, for example, a virtual community can significantly reduce time to grant submission.

Some of my colleagues may believe that creating communities around race or ethnicity increases divisions within our community. But divisions already exist. The “I don’t see race” perspective of the 1990s hinders our ability to dismantle the extraordinary barriers developed over hundreds of years of systemic racism that affect both patients and doctors. A dedicated community provides a safe space to generate ideas from lived experience and foster leaders to represent those underrepresented among the larger membership. We know that Black, Latinx, and Native physicians are more likely to practice in underserved communities and treat more minority patients, regardless of income. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust into the spotlight the health care disparities faced by communities of color, and a forum for those affected creates opportunities to address such inequities.

I am excited for ASTRO’s debut and kick-off of these ROHub communities. Particularly as we become increasingly virtual, planned socializing and networking must adapt. The timing could not be better. Opportunity is not a zero-sum game: we do not have to lose power or influence when others gain it. Increased diversity will push our research forward, bring forth new ideas, and enrich patient care. Educational experiences prove that diversity within training environments improves learning outcomes for all students.

For these reasons and more, ASTRO’s initiative will provide a broader tent for all of us.