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AAMC Center for Workforce Studies

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Current evidence suggests that the United States is headed toward an aggregate shortage of physicians.


Given the extended time required to increase U.S. medical school capacity, and to educate and train physicians, the nation must begin now to increase medical school and GME capacity to meet the needs of the nation in 2015 and beyond.

In addition, a vigorous effort should be undertaken to determine, among other factors, how people use physicians' services over time, the impact of changes in the composition of the physician workforce, and how physician productivity changes over the course of a career. The association has established the AAMC Center for Workforce Studies to assist in this effort.

Featured AAMC Initiatives and Resources

Medical School Enrollment Plans: Analysis of the 2007 AAMC Survey (PDF, 13 pages)
Based on the fall 2007 survey of U.S. medical schools and an appraisal of future enrollment at new medical schools under discussion or development, the AAMC estimates that first-year U.S. M.D. enrollment will grow to nearly 19,909 in the 2012 academic year from 16,488 in 2002, an increase of nearly 21 percent.

2008 AAMC Physician Workforce Research Conference
Presentations from the AAMC's Fourth Annual Physician Workforce Research Conference.

Recent Studies and Reports on Physician Shortages in the U.S. (PDF, 10 pages)
Over the past several years, a growing number of studies examining the U.S. physician workforce have concluded that we are facing current or future shortages. This report provides a summary of these studies, highlighting the major conclusions of the findings.

2007 State Physician Workforce Data Book (PDF, 39 pages)
This updated report examines the active physician supply in each state, as well as current medical school enrollment and physicians in graduate medical education (GME) programs. The report includes a set of tables with the actual numbers that are presented visually in the figures.

AAMC Workforce Position

AAMC Statement on the Physician Workforce (PDF, 9 pages)
Concerned that future demand for physicians will outstrip supply, the AAMC supports a 30 percent increase in U.S. medical school enrollment by 2015.

Questions and Answers About the AAMC's Physician Workforce Position (PDF, 3 pages)

 

"Help Wanted: More U.S. Doctors"

Projected Number of Matriculants in 2012

Related Resources

Addressing Healthcare Workforce Issues for the Future (PDF, 11 pages)
AAMC testimony on health care workforce before the Senate HELP Committee by Edward Salsberg, Feb. 12, 2008

The Upcoming Doctor Shortage
Edward Salsberg was a guest on the Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU-FM in Washington, D.C., to discuss physician workforce issues in Maryland.

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