APGO

« Back to Search

Obstetricians and Gynecologists of the Future: A Survey a Medical Students Applying to Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Background: There is a projected workforce deficit in OB/GYN by the year 2020.  More generalist OB/GYNs are needed in rural areas.  Additionally, demographics of OB/GYNs have dramatically changed, with more practitioners choosing non-traditional employment paths.  It’s imperative that our national organizations understand what influences medical students selecting OB/GYN in order to recruit future OB/GYNs who will meet the needs of the population. 

Methods: In 2015-2016, medical students invited for interviews for OB/GYN at the University of Colorado, University of Washington, University of California San Francisco, Loyola University, and New York University received a voluntary electronic survey regarding factors influencing their choice of medical specialty.   

Results: 226 of 356 students responded (63%). Mean age was 27 and 89.6% were female.  General surgery was the most common alternative specialty (35.8%).  The most common drawback to the specialty was “long hours” (66%).  After residency, applicants planned to complete fellowship training (70%), do international work (56%), seek an academic position (70 %), practice in an urban setting (91.6%), work 51-60 hours/week (55%) and take 2-3 nights of call/month (49.1%). Two-thirds will have greater than $100,000 of educational debt and 32% will have greater than $200,000 upon graduation.  

Discussions: Contemporary medical students selecting OB/GYN may not be meeting the work force needs of tomorrow.  They are graduating with large amounts of educational debt, overwhelming planning to pursue fellowship, work internationally, and practice in urban academic settings.  

Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2017, Student, Resident, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Osteopathic Faculty, Residency Director, Patient Care, Systems-Based Practice & Improvement, GME, Public Health, Faculty Development,