Addressing the Shortage of Primary Care Physicians: Outcomes from Two Programs at the UC San Diego School of Medicine

background: A shortage of physicians practicing in disadvantaged communities is a contributor to the persistence of health disparities. The passage of the Affordable Care Act provides greater access to health insurance for low-income, uninsured individuals but there are concerns about the shortage of primary care providers and physicians. The Program in Medical Education – Health Equity (PRIME-HEq) and the Conditional Acceptance Program (CAP) were created at the UC San Diego School of Medicine in an effort to increase the number of students working in underserved communities. CAP trains students with a demonstrated commitment to community service. PRIME-HEq is a joint MD/Masters program that trains students who plan to work with populations at risk for experiencing health disparities.

methods: PRIME-HEq and CAP students were tracked after graduation to determine whether or not they chose a primary care specialty, and whether or not they chose to work in a Medically Underserved Area/Population (MUA/P) or a Health Professions Shortage Area (HPSA). As of 2014 29 CAP students and 29 PRIME-HEq have graduated.

results: Seventy-two percent of CAP and 66% of PRIME-HEq students choose a primary care specialty compared to the national average of 36%. Fifty-five percent of CAP students work in an underserved area compared to the national average of 21%.

conclusion: Outcomes from the CAP and PRIME-HEq programs strongly demonstrate that supporting medical students that have demonstrated a commitment to community service and desire to address health disparities can lead to a higher percentage of physicians choosing to work in underserved areas.