Gen Z's Career Choices Amplify Family Doctor Shortage
United States, Friday, 21 March 2025.
The U.S. faces a critical shortage of 90,000 family doctors as Gen Z medical students prioritize prestigious specializations, threatening access to essential primary care services nationwide.
The Growing Crisis in Primary Care
Despite a 17% increase in medical student numbers over the past decade, the United States healthcare system faces a critical challenge in primary care delivery [1]. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects a shortage of approximately 87,000 family doctors by 2037, a situation that threatens to leave nearly one-third of Americans without reliable access to primary care [1]. Currently, an estimated one in three Americans lacks dependable access to primary care services, while the population of individuals over 50 with chronic illnesses is expected to double from 71.5 million in 2020 to 142.6 million by 2050 [1].
The Prestige Factor
The disparity in compensation between primary care and specialized medicine illustrates a key driver of this shortage. Family doctors earned an average of $255,000 in 2022, less than half the $619,000 average salary commanded by plastic surgeons [1]. This pay gap reflects a broader systemic issue where primary care work faces widespread ‘specialty disrespect,’ affecting up to 80% of medical students considering this path [1]. The impact of this professional stigma is significant - a University of Washington School of Medicine study revealed that 87.7% of students matching into family medicine residencies between 2008 and 2012 experienced denigrating comments about their specialty choice [1].
Systemic Barriers and Resource Allocation
The undervaluation of primary care is evident in national spending patterns. In 2021, the United States allocated just $0.05 to primary care for every healthcare dollar spent, significantly lower than the $0.14 average in other wealthy nations [1]. This underfunding creates a challenging work environment where primary care physicians face intense time pressures. As American Medical Student Association president Annelise Silva notes, ‘I’ve been in situations where they’re saying, ‘OK, here’s a new patient. You’ve got seven minutes to try to get an intake on who they are’ [1].
Looking Ahead: Potential Solutions
The path forward requires substantial reforms in both healthcare policy and medical education. Healthcare experts advocate for new payment models that better value primary care, such as implementing fixed-rate patient systems with additional fees for specific services [1]. This crisis is further complicated by recent political developments, as evidenced by the House of Representatives’ February 25, 2025 passage of a budget proposing $880 billion in cuts to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid [1]. As Dr. Yalda Jabbarpour warns, the current situation has led to ‘higher rates of chronic disease… higher mental health burden… [and] lower vaccination rates than we’ve ever had’ [1].