#MedCanes Chronicles: Why Students Shy Away from Primary Care
“#MedCanes Chronicles” offers first-person perspectives into the lives of medical students on their journey to becoming health care leaders. The series delves into the personal narratives of these aspiring doctors and scientists, shedding light on their struggles, triumphs and the resilience that propels them forward.
Danielle Francesca Gabuzda, M.D. Class of 2025
Read Danielle’s MEDPAGETODAY article about encouraging primary care as a career choice
When I’m asked about my specialty of interest and reply family medicine, the responses usually fall into three categories: encouragement, a nonchalant nod or familiar commentary I’ve heard numerous times before about how primary care doctors are undervalued, underpaid and overworked.
I understand why these views exist. In the U.S., the primary care system is struggling with a number of challenges, including administrative burdens and physician shortages. However, one thing is clear. Discouraging students from pursuing primary care is not the solution.
A study by the Association of American Medical Colleges forecasts a shortage of 20,000 to 41,000 primary care physicians by 2036 if residency positions do not increase, driven by an aging population and a significant number of older doctors retiring.
In academia, we need to support and nurture students’ interest in primary care if we truly want to strengthen this field.
One study highlighted the powerful impact of medical culture and its “hidden curriculum,” where a survey of fourth-year medical students revealed that those attending institutions with negative attitudes toward primary care were significantly less likely to choose a primary care specialty.
This makes sense. As students, we are highly influenced by our mentors and rely on their guidance to navigate our career paths. The same study also found that students with more positive clinical experiences in primary care were more likely to pursue it. This underscores the importance of early and frequent exposure to primary care in medical school curricula.
My own clinical rotations played a vital role in sparking my interest in family medicine, a field I had little exposure to previously. During my rotation, I found family medicine to be both energizing and enlightening. It offers a career where I can prevent and manage chronic diseases, guide patients through the complexities of the health care system and build long-term, trusting relationships with them.
To attract more students to primary care, we must address the “hidden curriculum” that deters them from considering it. This change is possible and necessary for a brighter future for the American primary care system, driven by passionate new doctors.
Tags: #MedCanes Ambassadors, Department of Medical Education, MedCanes Chronicles, medical education, primary care