ArticleAnnals of surgical oncology2026
Taking Leave During Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship: A National Evaluation of Policy and Practice.
Article in Annals of surgical oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- ASO Author Reflections: Leave Policy for Breast Surgical Oncology Fellows: Finding the Path Forward.Annals of surgical oncology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThe American Board of Medical Specialties and the Fellowship Council provide general leave recommendations for many surgical fellowships, yet no standardized policy exists for Breast Surgical Oncology (BSO) programs. Leave is granted on a case-by-case basis by institutions and governing bodies including the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) and the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS). This study characterized the frequency, duration, and types of leave taken by BSO fellows, evaluated institutional leave policies, and barriers to leave implementation.
methodsAn anonymous electronic survey approved by the SSO Research Committee was distributed to program directors and associate PDs of all accredited BSO fellowships in October 2025. Redacted SSO/ASBrS Fellowship Training Committee meeting minutes (2015-2025) were reviewed. Qualitative data on barriers to leave were analyzed using thematic analysis.
resultsThe survey achieved a 73% response rate (48/66 fellowships). Two-thirds of responding programs reported a leave policy, and 75% had at least one fellow take leave during training. Review of Training Committee minutes identified 13 fellows who extended training following leave. Maximum leave duration without training extension varied across programs (median 4 weeks, range 0-12) and by type of leave. Thematic analysis identified four recurring barrier themes; the most commonly cited concern surrounded completing fellowship requirements without extending training.
conclusionAlthough leave during BSO fellowship is common, one-third of programs lack a formal policy and durations vary considerably, underscoring the need for a standardized leave framework to ensure equitable trainee experiences.
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