Purpose The Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM, for its Spanish acronym) would like to attest to the relevance
of training in Oncology as part of the undergraduate education in Medicine program and issue recommendations to improve
said training, with the aim of responding better to the challenges that cancer poses to our society.
Materials and methods The curricula of 42 schools of medicine were reviewed with interviews with at least one teaching
medical oncologist from each faculty. The qualitative and opinion analysis was completed by means of an online questionnaire
targeting lecturers, resident tutors, and residents in Medical Oncology (MO), enabling the detection of needs and areas
for improvement at an organizational level and in terms of skill acquisition.
Results While the number of medical schools with a specific, mandatory program in MO has grown by up to 90%, it has
not been accompanied by an increase in independent programs. Instead, they largely consist of programs shared with other
specialties (61% of the medical faculties). In most of the undergraduate education programs, Oncology contents are fragmented
and approached from the perspective of each organ system.
Conclusions Despite the positive evolution in recent years, the heterogeneity in Oncology contents during undergraduate
education training continues to be remarkable. Cross-sectional programs with an integral vision, taught in the final years of
undergraduate medical education would be desirable. Among the recommendations for improvement of training in Medical
Oncology, the SEOM proposes that updated, theoretical content be incorporated and clinical practice in Medical Oncology departments be promotedThis study was funded as an unrestricted grant by Jansse