A Joint Report from Young SIOP, COG-YI, and Young SIOPE

We are pleased to announce the publication of a comprehensive report on the significant effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on early-career professionals in pediatric oncology, developed through a collaboration between the Children’s Oncology Group Young Investigators Committee (COG-YI), the Young SIOP Network, and Young SIOPE. This project, which began in early 2021, sought to understand how the onset of the pandemic disrupted academic productivity, career development, well-being, and work-life balance for emerging researchers and healthcare professionals in the field.

The survey, distributed in English, French, and Spanish received responses from 499 individuals in 48 countries, collected responses from 499 individuals. Key findings include:

• Career Challenges: 26.9% of respondents experienced difficulty in securing and retaining jobs, while 40.9% reported decreased career opportunities.
• Academic Productivity: Half of the respondents (50.7%) experienced a decline in academic productivity, with bench scientists disproportionately affected (p < 0.01).
• Childcare Strain: Over half (56.7%) of respondents faced challenges with childcare, with a more negative impact for women (p = 0.008) and those in high-income countries (p < 0.0001).
• Well-being and Work-Life Balance: Qualitative data highlighted how these challenges affected professional and personal boundaries, contributing to greater stress and impacting overall well-being.

This report underscores the need for institutions and governing bodies to address the long-term disruptions caused by the pandemic, particularly in mitigating its impact on career progression and professional well-being for early-career professionals, especially those with childcare responsibilities.

We encourage all members of the pediatric oncology community to read the full report and share its findings, as it provides critical insights into the resilience and ongoing challenges faced by our colleagues in the field.