Med schools: Shortages of doctors, nurses predicted to rise

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A March 2017 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) estimates a 34,600 to 88,000 shortage of doctors by 2025, and by 2030, anywhere from 40,800 to 104,900.

Because of the shortages, two new medical schools have opened in Texas (at UT Austin and UT - Rio Grande Valley) and with the nine existing medical schools, have increased enrollments by about 1,200.

McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston will accept 240 first-year students this year, said Wallace Gleason Jr., M.D., associate dean for admissions and student affairs.

Gleason described this year's applicants for medical school as very talented, with high GPAs and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores.

Karen Johnson, M.D., associate dean for admissions at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), said 53,000 candidates applied nationally to medical schools in 2016, and 21,000 were accepted.

She said 186 candidates are admitted each year at BCM.

"We ... begin looking through applications for the next year by July 1. It closes on Dec. 1, and a committee reviews applications until the process is complete," she said.

In 2015, a new MCAT was released, replacing its 25-year-old predecessor.

"We are still learning, understanding and applying this new test to our admissions process," Johnson said. "The new MCAT takes a more holistic view."

Two health professions begun in the 1960s in response to the beginnings of the physician shortage - nurse practitioners and physician assistants - now number approximately 56,000 and 30,000, respectively.

Cathy Rozmus, Ph.D., R.N., vice dean for academic affairs at the School of Nursing at UTHealth, said she is seeing a large increase in the numbers of nurses seeking graduate training, primarily nurse practitioners and is now the school's largest program.

UTHealth's MSN (Master of Science in Nursing - nurse practitioner) program admits 150, requires four semesters (full time)/seven semesters (part time) and costs approximately $13,300.

"We also offer the post-master's DNP, enrolling about 100 students, a program which has grown," Rozmus said. The DNP programs receives 74 applications, admits 62 students, requires eight semesters to complete with an estimated cost of approximately $12,290 to $17,300. The BSN program accepts 130 candidates three times a year, requires 15-16 months and the cost is approximately $15,000. Elizabeth Elliott, PA-C, assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine's School of Allied Health and Department of Pediatrics, and a physician's assistant (PA) for the past 11 years, said the demand for PAs is huge.

"They play a critical role in extending the reach of our health care system," Elliott said.

Out of the 1,600 applications received by the program each year, 40 are accepted.

The program at BCM requires 30 months, divided by classroom and clinical learning.