Medical school enrollment climbs 1.4%

Enrollment in U.S. medical schools grew 1.4% in 2015 to 20,630 students, the Association of American Medical Colleges announced today. Medical school classes also continued to diversify, with increases in nearly every racial and ethnic category, the association said. Applications to U.S. medical schools rose by 6.2%, to 52,550, including 38,460 first-time applicants. “To ensure that we have enough physicians to care for our growing, aging population in the face of a real and significant doctor shortage in the coming decade, Congress also must increase federal support for residency training,” said AAMC President and CEO Darrell Kirch, M.D. AHA continues to recommend that the cap be lifted to create at least 15,000 new resident positions, as included in the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (H.R. 2124).