Will Changes to the Student Loan System Worsen Physician Shortages?

WayOutWestMom
Thu, 26 Jun 2025 21:14:43 +0000

I think the biggest concern expressed is not that there wouldn’t be enough med students, but that med students will flock to higher paying specialties,causing even bigger shortages of primary care and other lower paying specialitie. There is currently a shortage of pediatricians, FM, internists, and OB/GYNs nationally.

RE: states offering scholarships for service in rural areas. A dozen or do states already do this. So does the VA and IHS. FQHC (federally qualifying health clinics) in underserved rural and urban area also offer loan forgiveness/ scholarships. For 2 or 4 years of service. However, there are catches. Doctors must be in FM, general IM, pediatrics or OB/ gyn. ( Only the VA has the discretion to offer physicians in other specialties the scholarship.) and the forgiveness rate is $40K/ year