Last fall, 20,343 students began their first semester of medical school, up 23 percent from 2002, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. While the increased rates of medical school enrollment could help remedy projected physician shortages, medical school deans are worried these students will face a lack of openings for residencies upon graduation, according to Bloomberg Business.
The vast majority — 87 percent — of deans said they are concerned about the number of available clinical training sites for graduates, compared with 2010, when 72 percent of deans indicated this concern. Additionally, 71 percent of deans are concerned the rate of medical school enrollment will eventually outpace growth in residency availability, according to the report.
"Without an increase in federally funded residency training positions, all these new medical school graduates may not be able to complete their training and become practicing physicians," AAMC President Darrell Kirch said in a statement.
According to the report, the AAMC argues that after freezing funding for medical residencies in 1997, Congress must direct more funds into graduate medical education to prevent further physician shortages.