Perspectives

Statewide Regional Campus Development: Academic Medicine’s Response to US Physician Shortages

Authors: Elena A. Wood, MD, PhD, Kathryn R. Martin, PhD, Paul M. Wallach, MD

Abstract

Based on data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the United States will experience a shortage of up to 122,000 physicians by 2032, affecting patient care across the nation.1 In 2006, the AAMC recommended a 30% increase in US medical school enrollment to address the national physician shortage, proposing that the expansion of existing schools and opening of new allopathic medical schools will result in 5000 new medical students by 2015. According to the AAMC Medical School Enrollment Survey,2 medical school enrollment increased by 25% since 2002–2003, and a 30% increase will have been achieved by 2017–2018.

This content is limited to qualifying members.

Existing members, please login first

If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.

Purchase only this article ($25)

Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.

Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)

Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.

Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)

Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.

References

1. Association of American Medical Colleges. New findings confirm predictions on physician shortage. https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/press-releases/new-findings-confirm-predictions-physician-shortage. Published April 23, 2019. Accessed October 13, 2019.
2. Association of American Medical Colleges. 2013 AAMC Regional Medical Campus Survey. https://www.aamc.org/system/files/reports/1/aibvol6no2.pdf. Accessed October 13, 2019.
3. Association of American Medical Colleges. Medical school expansion plans: results of the 2006 AAMC survey, 2007.
4. Cheifetz CE, McOwen KS, Gagne P, et al. Regional medical campuses: a new classification system. Acad Med 2014;89:1140-1143.
5. Mallon WT, Lui M, Jones RF, et al. Regional Medical Campuses: Bridging Communities, Enhancing Mission, Expanding Medical Education. Washington, DC: Association of American Medical Colleges; 2006.
6. Christner JG, Dallaghan GB, Briscoe G, et al. The community preceptor crisis: recruiting and retaining community-based faculty to teach medical students-a shared perspective from the Alliance for Clinical Education. Teach Learn Med 2016;28:329-336.
7. Nuss MA, Robinson B, Buckley PF. A statewide strategy for expanding graduate medical education by establishing new teaching hospitals and residency programs. Acad Med 2015;90:1264-1268.