Why write about Family Medicine? Does it matter? Can it help to make a dent in the huge shortage of Family Physicians?
Social Media has the potential of making issues "go viral". "Going viral" may get out the word about both the need and the shortage. Information matters.
So how does someone get to be a Family Physician? First, one attends medical school and selects a specialty by the end of the third year. The medical student signs up for the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). They interview in residency programs in their chosen specialty for the opportunity to "match" with their program of choice in March of their senior year in medical school. If they choose Family Medicine like 8.4% of American medical school seniors this year, they had a high percentage chance of getting matched with one of the top three training programs of their choice, since the programs had to get international medical graduates to fill half of their slots.
Family Medicine Match Rate Increases Slightly
Why aren't more medical students choosing Family Medicine? There are many theories and studies with commentary such as: Medical Students Have Negative Perceptions of Physician Work Life
Writing about the situation helps. Let's "go viral" soon.
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