After initial increases, the number of rural graduates remains much the same at about 600 (dark line), although the smallest towns have less graduates (other AAFP data).

The declining purple bars represent fewer FP docs going to the smallest towns, stabilizing at about 100 per year. The rising yellow bars indicated rapid increases in the number of FP residents choosing urban underserved locations.

Family medicine has provided thousands of physicians to underserved rural communities over the years. In recent years the numbers choosing rural practice have remained at about 600 per year, despite increases in residencies and resident positions. Family practice is now in danger of becoming much like the other medical specialties: as the supply increases, there is increasing maldistribution of the specialty. The only exception to this rule is urban poverty practice where family practice graduates have posted major increases. If family medicine fails to address this location issue, it will soon face more than threats to Title VII funding. Without special efforts to increase the numbers of family medicine residents choosing rural locations, much of the political power of the specialty will be lost. This could have impacts on graduate medical education funds at the federal and state levels.

From Bowman table for AFP article Continuing Family Medicine's Unique Contribution to Rural Health Care [see comments] (Bowman RC; Am Fam Physician, 1996 Aug)