Gen Z's Specialty Focus Contributes to Growing Doctor Shortage
United States, Friday, 21 March 2025.
Gen Z medical students are increasingly choosing prestigious specialties over primary care, leading to a projected need for 90,000 more family doctors in the U.S. by 2037.
The Growing Crisis in Primary Care
The healthcare system faces a critical challenge as medical students increasingly shy away from primary care specialties. After the 2024 Match Day, over 600 family medicine positions remained unfilled, alongside nearly 500 vacancies in internal medicine and 250 in pediatrics [1]. This trend is particularly concerning given that only 21% of residents continue practicing primary care after 3-5 years, down from an initial 37% who start in the field [1].
Financial and Prestige Factors
The disparity in compensation plays a significant role in this crisis. Family doctors earned an average of $255,000 in 2022, less than half the $619,000 earned by plastic surgeons [1]. This stark pay difference is compounded by what the medical community terms ‘specialty disrespect,’ with 87.7% of family medicine residents at the University of Washington School of Medicine reporting experiences of this phenomenon between 2008-2012 [1]. The United States’ underinvestment in primary care is evident, allocating just $0.05 for every healthcare dollar in 2021, compared to an average of $0.14 in other wealthy nations [1].
Impact on Healthcare Access
The consequences of this shortage are already apparent, with nearly one-third of Americans lacking reliable access to primary care [1]. The situation is expected to worsen as the population ages, with projections showing the number of people over 50 with at least one chronic illness will double from 71.5 million in 2020 to 142.6 million by 2050 [1]. In Alberta, Canada, innovative solutions like telemedicine are being explored, with companies like Rocket Doctor reporting a 112% increase in patient visits between 2023 and 2024 [6].
Addressing the Crisis
Medical institutions are beginning to respond to this challenge. Florida State University and Georgetown University have launched initiatives to promote primary care and combat specialty disrespect [1]. However, the healthcare system continues to struggle with efficiency, as highlighted by Dr. Yalda Jabbarpour, who notes that the current situation has led to ‘higher rates of chronic disease, higher mental health burden, and lower vaccination rates than we’ve ever had’ [1].