Medical Student Debt and Specialty Choice Maryjean Schenk

Medical Student Debt and Specialty Choice Maryjean Schenk, MD, MPH, MS Vice Dean for Medical Education Professor, Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences Wayne State University School of Medicine

Focus on Primary Care “Primary care is the provision of integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community. ” Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine, General Pediatrics

Pathway to Primary Care Practice § Pathway to becoming a board certified, licensed physician – Undergraduate degree (4 years) – Medical school (4 years) – Residency (Primary Care) (3 years)

Medical Student Debt $ 170 000 WSUSOM Average Medical Student Debt 2005 -2010 Average Debt $ 162 655 $ 160 000 $ 154 197 Average Debt $ 150 000 $ 141 556 $ 140 000 $ 134 258 $ 130 000 $ 129 245 $ 120 000 $ 110 000 $ 100 000 2005 -2006 -2007 -2008 -2009 -2010

Residency Choice and Specialty Income

Solutions? § Reduce or resolve disparities in physician incomes by specialty (value versus volume) § Scholarships for medial students who match into family medicine residencies § Trade debt for service programs (federal and state with emphasis on physician distribution) § Support education mission of family medicine departments