Eliminating Medical School Debt: A Dean and Geriatrician's View From Opposite Ends of the Training Pipeline
Authors: Mark S. Lachs, Augustine M.K. Choi
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2019)

Ideas and Opinions18 February 2020Eliminating Medical School Debt: A Dean and Geriatrician's View From Opposite Ends of the Training PipelineMark S. Lachs, MD, MPH and Augustine M.K. Choi, MDMark S. Lachs, MD, MPHWeill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York (M.S.L., A.M.C.)Search for more papers by this author and Augustine M.K. Choi, MDWeill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York (M.S.L., A.M.C.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M19-2897 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail First, some relevant disclosures: One of us (M.S.L.) is a geriatrician and proud alumnus of New York University School of Medicine, the first medical school to offer free tuition to its matriculants (1). The other (A.M.K.C.) is the dean of a nearby institution, Weill Cornell Medicine. Both of us, from different vantage points, are struggling with the issue of student loan debt for medical school matriculants and residents, an issue that has contributed to a workforce crisis in geriatrics (2) and other nonprocedural specialties, in addition to limiting interest in research careers. Among the consequences are a specialty–primary care imbalance ...References1. Chen DC. Surprise gift: free tuition for all N.Y.U. medical students. New York Times [Internet]. 2018 Aug 16. Accessed at www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/nyregion/nyu-free-tuition-medical-school.html on 28 October 2019. Google Scholar2. Hirth VA, Eleazer GP, Dever-Bumba M. A step toward solving the geriatrician shortage. Am J Med. 2008;121:247-51. [PMID: 18328311] doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2007.10.030 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Association of American Medical Colleges. Medical Education: Graduation Questionnaire (GQ). Accessed at www.aamc.org/data-reports/students-residents/report/graduation-questionnaire-gq on 28 October 2019. Google Scholar4. Thomas B. Free medical school tuition: will it accomplish its goals? JAMA. 2019;321:143-144. [PMID: 30535168] doi:10.1001/jama.2018.19457 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Marcu MI, Kellermann AL, Hunter C, et al. Borrow or serve? An economic analysis of options for financing a medical school education. Acad Med. 2017;92:966-975. [PMID: 28121649] doi:10.1097/ACM.0000000000001572 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Hassan A. Cornell's medical school offers full rides in battle over student debt. New York Times [Internet]. 2019 Sept 16. Accessed at www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/us/weill-cornell-free.html on 28 October 2019. Google Scholar7. Weill Cornell Medicine. New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medicine's Student Loan Repayment Program for Fellows in Geriatric Medicine. FAQs. Accessed at https://geriatrics-palliative.weill.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/2019-09-09_adopt_a_geriatrician_faq.pdf on 28 October 2019. Google Scholar8. U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid. Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Plan Request. Accessed at https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/ibrInstructions.action on 28 October 2019. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York (M.S.L., A.M.C.)Acknowledgment: The authors thank Lois Perelson-Gross, DMin, and Aaron Stern, MD, for reviewing earlier drafts of the manuscript.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M19-2897.Corresponding Author: Mark S. Lachs, MD, MPH, Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, Baker 1401, New York, NY 10065; e-mail, [email protected]cornell.edu.Current Author Addresses: Dr. Lachs: Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, Baker 1401, New York, NY 10065.Dr. Choi: Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, F-105, New York, NY 10065.Author Contributions: Drafting of the article: M.S. Lachs.Critical revision for important intellectual content: M.S. Lachs, A.M.K. Choi.Final approval of the article: M.S. Lachs, A.M.K. Choi.This article was published at Annals.org on 31 December 2019. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byMedical Student Debt and the US Infectious Diseases WorkforceResidency interviews in the digital eraTrends in Medical School Application and Matriculation Rates Across the United States From 2001 to 2015: Implications for Health DisparitiesApplying to Medical School in the COVID-19 Era 18 February 2020Volume 172, Issue 4Page: 279-280KeywordsCareers in researchDisclosureGeriatricsOrthopedicsPopulation statisticsPrimary carePrimary care physiciansResearch designScientistsSub-specialty care ePublished: 31 December 2019 Issue Published: 18 February 2020 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2019 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...