Factors That Influence a Physician’s Choice of Populations to Serve

This project, proposed by the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C., aims to develop better understanding of the factors that influence a physician’s choice of populations to serve. The study is looking at a number of factors that may influence this decision, including education related debt, experience with underserved populations and training in underserved areas, primary care experience, county of birth (rural, suburban, urban), race, and exposure to Title VII grants while in training.

Since no objective study has ever looked at the effect of debt on career choices and the medical school debt burden is rising, an answer to the question about the impact of debt is of particular importance. Robert L. Phillips, Jr., M.D., M.S.P.H., Director of the Robert Graham Center, is principal investigator. The Macy Foundation awarded a grant of $195,144 for the one-year study to be completed February 2009.