Journal of Regional Medical Campuses

Alleviating the Physician Shortage by Increasing Medical Student and Resident Physician Capacity in the North Midwest (Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin)

Nicholas Leifeld

University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus

George Ongoro

University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus

Patrick Bright

University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3419-3096

Peter Nalin

University of Minnesota Medical School

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jrmc.v7i4.6102

Keywords: Physician Shortage, Medical Education Expansion, Healthcare workforce planning

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Abstract

The authors’ central goal was to design a plan for the anticipated physician deficit in the North Midwest region of the United States. We analyzed the Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) 2024 projections, which have forewarned of a significant shortage by 2036. This study addresses this challenge by proposing targeted plans to augment medical student and resident capacity in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The purpose was to develop plans for each state to ensure an adequate supply of physicians to meet the growing demands on the healthcare systems. The calculations identified the approximate balance between the growing healthcare needs of the North Midwest region and the capacity of the existing medical education and residency training programs. We suggested the incremental expansion of medical student seats and residency positions over the next 10 years. We outlined how to bridge the physician gap while avoiding any undue stress on the existing systems.

The application of these strategies could establish a robust physician workforce that meets the healthcare demands of each North Midwest state. Ultimately, the overarching goal was to provide a baseline approximation to aid in estimating the current need for the expansion of medical educational systems.

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Author Biographies

Nicholas Leifeld, University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus

N. Leifeld is a second-year medical student at the University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus.

George Ongoro, University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus

G. Ongoro is a second-year medical student at the University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus.

Patrick Bright, University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus

P. Bright is a researcher in the Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health and of the Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team at the University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth Campus.

Peter Nalin, University of Minnesota Medical School

Dr. Peter Nalin is Professor and Department Head of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health, and Associate Dean for Rural Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School.