Survey: First-year enrollment at U.S. medical schools up 28% since 2002

First-year enrollment at U.S. medical schools has increased by 28% since 2002, with 22 new schools accounting for nearly 40% of the growth, according to the latest annual survey by the Association of American Medical Colleges. First-year enrollment reached 21,030 in 2016-2017. According to projections released by AAMC in March, the nation faces a shortage of between 40,800 and 104,900 physicians by 2030. “The U.S. physician shortage is real and it’s significant,” said AAMC President and CEO Darrell Kirch, M.D. “U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals are doing their part to mitigate its potential effects on our growing and aging population. Now it’s up to Congress to provide for funding for residency training if we are to increase the overall supply of physicians and avert a serious shortage.” The AHA-supported Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (H.R. 2267), introduced last month, would add 15,000 Medicare-funded residency positions to alleviate physician shortages that threaten patients’ access to care.