United States predicted to see massive shortage of family practitioners
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The United States could see a shortage of nearly 87,000 family practitioners by the year 2027.
That's concerning, as the prediction is made worse by an aging workforce and higher demand for elder care.
Family care doctors are comprised of OB-GYNs, pediatrics and geriatrics. When it comes to this next generation of doctors, paying off student loans is a huge concern, which could factor into their decision to forego family medicine.
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'You cannot afford to go into family medicine if you're taking out $300,000 plus worth of student loans to get a job that pays $150,000 to $175,000 before taxes. Take taxes out of that and good luck getting a job.'
That's why Dr. Bill Hennessey says more Gen Zers are pursuing other specialties that offer more handsome salaries. Doctor Hennessey works as the Chief Innovative Officer for CareGuide, a company that negotiates outrageous medical bills on behalf of patients.
'I would pay the family physicians more, so they want to be family physicians. They work hard; they deserve it.'
Across the medical field, people tend to look down on primary care work because it does not pay as well as other specialties, is often an 'administrative slog,' and is not considered as prestigious. However, some schools like the University of Missouri-Kansas City are enthusiastically promoting students to pursue it.
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'Sixty percent of our St. Joseph students went into primary care,' said Dr. Alexander Norbash, the Dean of the School of Medicine. Out of UMKC's two campuses, he said 76 out of 135 students are choosing to pursue family medicine.
'If you're going to a school where primary care is celebrated, appreciated, and taught effectively with good teachers, I think that students can't help but go into it. Many of our students who go into primary care realize that if they go into a specialty to pay off their loans sooner, and then they do that and are not fulfilled by their job, then they have been penny-wise and pound-foolish, so to speak.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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CNN
3 hours ago
- CNN
These dads lost everything, and then they found each other
The worst day of Brad Bailey's life was March 5, 2020: the day his son, Rhoan, was stillborn at 39 weeks old. His wife, Erica Bailey, had experienced a routine pregnancy until that day. No issues, no extra monitoring necessary. That morning, however, something was awry. The baby had stopped moving, and she went straight to the hospital. An ultrasound confirmed the couple's worst fear: The baby didn't have a heartbeat. Rhoan was declared dead before the Baileys ever got a chance to meet him. In the days and weeks that followed, the couple did the best they could to honor their son. They had a funeral near their home in Kansas City, Missouri. They took time off from work. Erica Bailey began to find comfort and purpose in volunteering for a nonprofit that advocates for stillbirth prevention, but Brad, 38, was still stupefied by sadness. 'Burying your child is something that only those who have been around it or experienced it can understand,' he said. 'I felt like I had nobody to talk to and no way out.' Eventually, upon a recommendation from his wife, Bailey connected with an online organization called the Sad Dads Club, a nonprofit that provides peer-to-peer community and support for bereaved fathers. The club supports dads who have endured any type of perinatal loss – that is, death of a baby during pregnancy, labor or within the first few weeks after birth. The group also welcomes fathers who have lost children to sudden infant death syndrome and those who have lost older and even adult children. It helps dads by providing a safe space for them to grieve, said Rob Reider, a club cofounder and executive director. The men share heartache, fear, anger, confusion, joy and any other emotion they experience on their journey. They also trade insights, knowledge and advice. Most of the group's meetups are virtual: either via weekly video calls or messaging on the SDC Discord channel. Twice annually, the organization hosts an in-person retreat by a pond in Maine. The Sad Dads Club supports members in other ways, too. Through donations and grants, the organization has been able to help unlock access to professional mental health services. The group currently covers six online therapy sessions at no cost for up to 20 dads each year. This kind of counseling and camaraderie after the loss of a child can be invaluable, Reider said. 'Living with the loss of a child is a never-ending journey,' he said. 'Finding help shouldn't be a burden, too.' There certainly are lots of fathers grappling with the grief of stillbirth. One out of every 175 pregnancies in the United States ends in stillbirth, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This means about 21,000 babies are stillborn annually. While there are mental health programs to help parents manage this heartbreak, most of them are for mothers, said Michelle Goldwin Kaufman, a psychologist in Memphis, Tennessee. Kaufman noted this means dads are left to manage heartache on their own. It's yet another challenge, considering that traditional masculinity norms reject vulnerability and that men's mental health has been in crisis. 'One of the stereotypes is that men want to fix things, but stillbirth is not a problem anyone can fix,' said Kaufman, who is also an adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Memphis. 'The reality is that dads in these scenarios often get forgotten, and it's important to create an environment where they can give their grief space.' This need for connection is precisely what led 40-year-old Reider to team up with friends Jay Tansey and Chris Piasecki and start the Sad Dads Club. All three men live in or near Portland, Maine, and all three lost children to stillbirth during an 18-month period. Reider and Tansey, best friends from college, each experienced this trauma in 2017. Piasecki, the husband of a college classmate, had a child die a year later. Following these tragedies, the men struggled with feelings of isolation, guilt and sadness, but they found comfort in spending time together. These early meetups among dads were informal gatherings, filled with emotion, extended, uncomfortable silences and lots of beer. 'Basically, we were three grown men sitting there over beers, bawling our eyes out, talking about our daughters, and learning how to piece life together as best we could,' Tansey, 40, said. Piasecki, 38, called it 'beers and tears.' One of the reasons he found the get-togethers so helpful is because each dad knew he didn't have to explain what he was feeling because his friends felt it, too. 'I remember thinking, 'This is the first conversation I've ever had with other guys where I don't have to give the entire backstory of why I feel like crap,'' Piasecki said. 'I could live in the moment and talk about how I was feeling at that time, and they'd just understand. That was incredibly powerful. We became each other's lifeline.' Gradually the trio met other local men who had also lost babies to stillbirth, and they invited the newcomers to join. Then, one cold and rainy night in 2022, Reider was leaving the house to meet the group at a bar in Portland, Maine, when his wife Tehilah remarked that he was heading to a meeting of the 'Sad Dads Club.' The name stuck. Reider, Tansey and Piasecki formally founded the nonprofit later that year. They started slowly: first an Instagram account, then a website. The site launched with three 'birth stories,' in which the founders shared heart-wrenching details of their losses. These narratives made it clear from the beginning: SDC was a place where men could be vulnerable and let it all out. Soon after launching the website, the group started monthly video call meetings. The dads added an online channel to chat in 2023 – it started small and now includes subgroups for topics such as returning to work, celebrating the birthdays of the kids they have lost, sex after loss and even lighter fare such as fantasy football. These days, the club meets every Thursday night. Dads log on from all over the world – including Maine, California, England and Australia. Sessions alternate between 'My Child, My Story,' during which one member gets the floor and shares stories, photos and other mementos; and 'Open Hour,' which is more of a moderated peer-to-peer support group focusing on topics such as relationships and pregnancy after loss. A session earlier this year dealt with the complicated subject of returning to work after losing a child. Reider opened the session by saying, 'We hate why we're all here but we're glad that we found one another.' Later, he asked participants to introduce themselves by their first name and the name of the child they lost. Reider isn't just Rob; he is Rob, Lila's dad. Tansey is Jay, Bella's Dad. Piasecki is Chris, Isabelle's dad. A few months after Sad Dads got going, Reider and his friends had an idea: Why not have a meetup in real life? The trio got to work on finding a house large enough for about two dozen men and secluded enough for participants to feel like they were really stepping out of their everyday lives and into a new space for healing. Reider's wife eventually found the perfect spot in Raymond, Maine, about 30 minutes outside of Portland. The first retreat was in October 2023; since then, there have been three others for a total of four. Each retreat includes 25 men. Over the course of two and a half days, the men cook food together, play Wiffle ball, go for hikes and unwind from their daily lives. As the men relax, they begin to open up. Reider recalled a moment during the first retreat when he walked by a group of men who had never met in real life, talking like old friends about their 'Rainbow' kids – the kids they have had since they lost a child to stillbirth. During a subsequent retreat, one participant who had struggled for a while told the group that he thought the retreat healed the past four years of his life. Matt Bakalar, an SDC member from Somerville, Massachusetts, has attended two retreats so far, and said he is consistently amazed by how close the men get in such a short time. 'These are guys I've been through everything with; we have this horrible bond that, in a way, keeps us going,' Bakalar, 37, said. 'I'm used to seeing the guys on (video calls). To go to the retreat and see them and hug them and cry with them in person is an amazing experience.' So far, retreats have had very little structure outside of mealtimes. This is by design. The founders say that without an agenda, participants are free to take the retreat wherever they want to go —– even if that means one group of dads wants to take a hike and another group of dads wants to drink beer and talk. They often do both. The objective for the retreats is to make sure no dad feels alone. 'When dads come to the retreat hurting, we jump right into that pain pit with them,' Reider said. 'We won't wince, and we'll be right there with them with our arms around them in that pit of pain, so they don't feel alone. That's what Sad Dads Club is all about.' None of the founders knows exactly how many men the group has helped over the years — between the number of dads who participate in formal events and those who interact with the group through Instagram, they estimate it's in the thousands, if not tens of thousands. Looking forward, two of the organization's goals are to expand this reach, offer more mental health support and establish active in-real-life meetups around the country. Reider said he'd like to offer more free therapy sessions to a larger pool of men. 'In a dream world they could offer every one of their dads unlimited therapy or coaching services without a time stamp,' said Karina Chandler, a therapist in Portland, Maine, who has offered 'grief coaching' services to SDC members. While most of the dads learn positive coping skills to use when tackling their pain head-on, club members support without judgment those who can't or aren't ready yet, encouraging grace. Reider noted that nobody ever 'gets over' the loss of a loved one. 'It's not moving on, it's moving through,' he said. Just ask Brad Bailey. He barely spoke at his first SDC meeting, but now he's a regular contributor. Bailey also has found his voice in the world. The once quiet and private person openly celebrates his son Rhoan, putting the boy's name on a flag that also reads, 'Make him proud.' The flag hangs in Bailey's home gym, a reminder that Rhoan is always with him. 'Even though he's not here, we will never let him be forgotten,' Bailey said. 'I'm not sure I could have reached the place I'm in today without the help of these men.' Matt Villano is a writer and editor based in Healdsburg, California. To learn more about him, visit
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Shelter calls on KC community amidst nationwide mental illness surge
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mental health issues are on the rise across the United States, according to one Kansas City shelter. They say it's causing more people to experience homelessness, especially in Kansas City. A new report from Citygate Network shows that 31% of Shelter KC guests were unhoused for the first time. That same report showed that 62% of those people reported that they've struggled with mental illness, which is well above the 47% national average. 'I've seen the demographics get younger,' said James Kohoutek, the Associate Director at Shelter KC. 'I've seen the amount of first-time homelessness increase as well as chronic homelessness. So, it's a rough situation we have.' Kansas City police stop potential sideshow during First Friday; enforcement continues Kohoutek shared research that shows limited access to health care, family trauma and financial strain are all contributing factors to mental illness. According to him, many just need a safe space and the right resources to make progress. 'Someone who sits off to the side away from the group, and then they start to sit more towards the group, and then they start to participate in the group discussion and the group classes,' he said, speaking on the progress he's seen in some cases. 'They start to engage in mental health services, they engage with their recovery coach or counselor. And you just see them come alive in a beautiful way.' Now, the shelter is calling on the KC community to get involved to break the cycle. Whether it's through volunteering or simply learning more about the crisis, Shelter KC believes it'll take everyone to make lasting change. 'We all need people in our lives to help us move forward, whether you're on the streets or standing behind a news camera. We all need that healthy support,' Kohoutek echoed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business Insider
Millennials are embracing compression socks — and trying to make them cool
Hot girls wear…compression socks? Designed to help reduce inflammation and increase blood flow, the once-niche, medical-grade product is frequently spotted in nursing homes and hospitals. Now, compression socks are becoming increasingly popular among millennials and Gen Zers. It shouldn't surprise anyone who has been paying attention to the former's shopping habits. Millennials are big fans of products that promote longevity and help them be proactive about their health. They sport Apple watches, bring earplugs to concerts, and track their VO2 max when they work out. Sock brands are capitalizing on consumer interest with stylish new designs that are far from your grandma's compression socks, combining the benefits of compression with fashion cute enough for TikTok. Here's why younger audiences can't get enough. Compression socks go mainstream Kate Garfield, the 38-year-old co-owner of Violet Hour Pilates in Brooklyn, told Business Insider she's been regularly wearing compression socks to teach Pilates since she sprained her ankle a few years ago. She also pulls the socks out for long-haul flights. "When I was barefoot and teaching, I kept twinging my ankle, so I started wearing them," Garfield said. "It definitely helped in that recovery, but then I noticed I was also just feeling a lot more energized through my day." Wearing compression socks, Garfield said she doesn't feel the urge to clench and roll her feet, which helps her feel more stable. She can leave a full day of teaching without feeling sore. So, how do they work? Standing, sitting, or lying down for a long time can cause blood to pool in the feet and lower legs, creating swelling and discomfort. Compression socks encourage the blood to get moving again by putting pressure near the foot and ankle and gentler pressure up the leg, squeezing the blood back toward the heart. They're often recommended for expectant mothers, people with varicose veins, post-op patients, and older people, who may need extra help with healthy blood flow. The feeling of pain relief you might get from wearing compression socks can be a result of better circulation in your legs, lower inflammation, and less stress on your muscles, Dr. Anahita Dua, a vascular surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, told BI. A younger consumer base Like Garfield, Sam Sarabi, a 25-year-old nurse from Temple, Texas, told BI she started experimenting with compression socks in 2023. She was searching for a way to help ease the pain she experienced in her thighs and calves, which popped up in the middle of her shifts and persisted when she got home. She didn't find a compression product that worked for her until Julia Gretars, a nursing student she connected with online and the founder of Juy Compression, sent her a pair of the brand's compression sleeves in November 2024. The sleeves are like compression socks, but they don't have feet. She said the sleeves leave her pain-free and with more energy. "I noticed a difference within the first day," Sarabi said. There's not much evidence that compression socks are good for already-healthy people who aren't struggling with swelling or circulation problems, but there's little downside as long as the socks fit well. Signs that you might benefit from compression socks include a feeling of tightness in the legs and feet, your shoes not fitting properly, and visible swelling (if you poke your leg with a finger, you'll see an imprint). There's still a good reason people in their 20s and 30s are stocking up on compression socks: they can be a game changer if you're pregnant or do a lot of exercise. For exercise, the evidence is growing that compression socks might have a small benefit for easing soreness after a workout, although they may not improve performance, according to Dua. The socks' squeezing effect on your legs mimics how your muscles naturally help to pump blood during active recovery, like walking, flushing out by-products of hard exercise like lactate to ease soreness and get you back to the gym faster. "It definitely wouldn't hurt if someone has low-grade inflammation after a run," physical therapist Jessica Chellsen said. Compression socks got a glow-up The compression sock renaissance is, in part, driven by new brands that appeal to younger consumers. For instance, in 2016, then-30-year-old Andrew Ferenci founded Comrad, a popular compression socks company, because he couldn't find an aesthetically pleasing version. The socks helped with his aches from travel and working out, but the plain black and beige pairs he found at Duane Reade left something to be desired. Ferenci said he created Comrad to offer a "compression sock that has all the benefits of a medical product and meets all the requirements, but is stylish and functional and has all the benefits of a lifestyle or athletic sock that you would wear." Ferenci told BI that millennials make up most of Comrad's customer base, but its products are also gaining popularity with Gen Z shoppers. The other major player is Bombas. Some of its socks are designed for everyday wear, and others for health or exercise support. Bombas offers new colors and patterns every season. Tam Conlin, Bombas' senior vice president of merchandising and design, told BI its compression products, which were first introduced in 2019, have grown 231% in the past three years, and the category is plus 31% for 2025 alone. BI couldn't independently confirm those percentages. Conlin also said millennial shoppers make up Bombas' biggest growth market. Conlin thinks compression socks are resonating with younger consumers because they are interested in "products that help you live more healthfully." "I think that mindset and consumer behavior is something that's really been taken on by the millennial generation and Gen Z, where there's specific products for specific needs that can really help you, and it's kind of like a life hack," she said. Garfield, who wears Bombas' compression socks, said the look is a game changer. "I think I used to hide them or want to not have them as visible, but they just look like socks. And they're cute," she said. Sarabi is also excited that more compression products are on the market, particularly in cuter styles. "In the majority of healthcare systems, you can only wear one color," she said. "I think if you could bring in a little bit of personality to design, it makes things fun." How to pick the right compression socks for you Here are some tips if you want to get in on the trend: Find the right fit and pressure. Look for socks that are snug but don't completely cut off your circulation. Avoid compression if you have difficulties with wound healing, and ask your doctor if you're unsure whether compression socks are right for you. Don't scrunch them up. Make sure they're aligned with your foot and aren't too long or too short so they can work as designed.
