This year's numbers also showed a decrease in other categories of primary care in both total positions filled and those filled with U.S. seniors. The NRMP released the results March 20. However, the trend is expected to be short-lived for a variety of reasons. There is reason to believe that more of next year's fourth-year students will pursue family medicine. Stories are claiming that managed care is a fad and will fade, ending the need for primary care physicians.
Research shows the opposite.
Students also are receiving the message from some professors that primary care soon will be handled by nurse practitioners and other midlevel providers. Students are told that positions will be available in the subspecialties because that is where the patients will be. That's not necessarily so. Our members are constantly telling us how they are being overwhelmingly recruited for available jobs. Therefore, the AAFP will remain committed to ensuring that medical students receive as many opportunities as possible to fully understand what the practice of family medicine truly represents.