22-03-2025
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.'
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