Medical school enrollment rising, but residency openings lag

While it still seems likely that physician shortages are looming, medical school enrollment is climbing, as well, according to new research by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The group announced that first-year enrollment in U.S. medical schools rose 2 percent this year over 2008, to about 18,400 students.

The group of new first-years includes students enrolled at four new medical schools: FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, The Commonwealth Medical College, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, and the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. Those new facilities accounted for about half of the 2009 increase. Meanwhile, 12 existing med schools increased their class size by 7 percent or more.

While this is good news, the AAMC still sees trouble ahead. The group argues that expanding residency training positions is also critical if the nation wants to avert the 124,000 to 159,000-physician shortage expected in the U.S. by 2025. To address this problem, the AAMC is backing a federal bill that would grow the number of Medicare-supported residency positions by 15 percent, or about 15,000 slots.

To learn more about medical education trends:
- read this AAMC release

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