Radiation Oncology.
Northgate represents radiation oncologists across proton therapy, SBRT and SRS, brachytherapy, CNS, breast and thoracic, and pediatric.
Your career in radiation oncology.
Radiation oncology has been reshaped by hypofractionation, by alternative payment models, and by the slow buildout of proton therapy. A senior CNS radiation oncologist at a comprehensive cancer center is in a different conversation than a community-based generalist evaluating a private group acquisition. A brachytherapy specialist evaluating an academic move is in a different conversation than a proton center director evaluating a leadership role. We treat the disease site and the technology platform as the unit of the conversation.
The work within radiation oncology.
We are deliberate about the disease site and the technology platform behind it. The market for a CNS-focused radiation oncologist with SRS volume is not the market for a community generalist evaluating a Mid-Atlantic group acquisition. The sub-disciplines below guide our approach to radiation oncology representation.
- Proton Therapy
- Proton-center leadership and disease-site coverage. A small senior pool tied to the ~40 operating proton centers; case mix and clinical-research expectations decide most conversations.
- SBRT & SRS
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery. Team integration with neurosurgery and pulmonology often defines fit at high-volume centers.
- Brachytherapy
- Prostate, GYN, breast, and skin brachytherapy. A specialized procedural skill set; senior brachytherapists command premium offers and tend to anchor disease-site teams.
- CNS & Pediatric
- Pediatric and adult CNS, often overlapping. Almost exclusively academic and quaternary; tumor board leadership and clinical trial participation are the negotiated terms.
- Breast & Thoracic
- The largest disease-site sub-disciplines by volume. Hypofractionation protocols and disease-site team leadership drive most senior moves.
- Disease-site Generalist
- Community-based comprehensive practice covering breast, lung, prostate, GI, and palliative. The anchor of community radiation oncology; ownership posture defines economics.
The radiation oncologist we represent.
We are most useful to radiation oncologists who are seven to twenty years into practice, board-certified by the ABR, and at a real inflection point. A center medical directorship opening at a place you have followed for a decade. A proton center adding senior leadership. A community group preparing for a sale to a hospital system or a national platform. An academic appointment opening at an NCI-designated center.
The conversation tends to work less well for trainees, for early-career generalists building practice patterns, and for engagements where the institution will not discuss disease-site assignment, technology platform commitment, or call structure up front.
- Tenure
- Seven to twenty years post-residency, with at least four years at the current practice. Earlier-career radiation oncologists better served by their training network.
- Disease-site depth
- A clear primary disease site or two. Mixed-bag generalists workable for community engagements but rarely fit academic disease-site team leadership.
- Technology platform fluency
- Proton, SBRT, SRS, MR-Linac, brachytherapy. The platform of the next institution often decides whether a move is worth pursuing.
- Practice-model preference
- Academic, hospital-employed, IDN-employed, or independent community group. The four shape the offer architecture more than the disease site does.
- Reason for the conversation
- A specific reason this season, not general curiosity. The reason itself usually shapes the right next role.
The rooms we work in.
The settings we consider for radiation oncology career opportunities.
- NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers
- Academic Medical Centers
- Proton Therapy Centers
- Integrated Delivery Networks
- Children’s Hospitals
- Community Radiation Oncology Groups
- Cancer Hospital Networks
- Faculty Practice Plans
