Robert C. Bowman, M.D.
Changes in medical school matriculants have impacted FP and rural practice. The following graphs involve FP Graduates.
Fewer males, particularly from rural areas, mean fewer choosing FP and rural.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inner city has been a contributor to those choosing FP, but affirmative action reversals in certain states have meant decreases in FP choice in those states, and the nation. Compare the following graphs of
Applicants by minority in 2002 and 2003, note increasing applications images/MSminor2003.emf
Matriculants by minority 2002 and 2003, not decreasing acceptances images/MSminormatric2003.emf
This is another troubling issue for the nation's medical schools and family medicine. Declines in overall minorities choosing FP may also be a reflection of minorities being admitted from higher social status than in previous years. Another interpretation is that minority students are more sensitive to the potential problems facing a discipline such as FP and could see it as an impediment to meeting needs, even making a difference in underserved areas.
Ethnicity and the Steps Toward Family Medicine
|
|
18-24 yr Pop |
College 1995 |
MedStud |
Choose FP |
|
|
White |
68% |
75% |
68.1% |
14% |
urban born |
|
|
|
|
|
20 - 30% |
rural born |
|
Asian |
3.5% |
5.8% |
16.9% |
3 - 24 % |
Indian - Vietnamese |
|
Black |
14.1% |
10.7% |
7.4% |
10 - 15% |
|
|
Hisp |
12.6% |
7.9% |
5.9% |
4 - 18% |
PR - Mex American |
|
Native |
0.9% |
1.0% |
0.7% |
10% |
|
|
|
Census |
Dept Educ |
AAMC |
FPGrad |
Birth Origin and Ethnicity of Family Medicine Graduates
Ethnicity Gender and Rural Practice Choice
Side Effects of Selecting for Family Medicine
Medicine, Education, and Social Status