Workforce in KY

Aside from the aroma of yummy pizza that wafted through the 2nd floor hall, we were treated to a very interesting talk on the state of the Physician Workforce in the state (pun intended) of Kentucky. Dr. Varga, chairman of the KMA Physician Workforce Committee, presented the trends and needs of Kentucky.

Here are the conclusions

*There is lots of need

*We have excellent medical schools and bright students

*We have diminished interest in the profession particularly among rural students and females

*Stoking the pipeline will take a long time, but must be done (from attracting HS students into medicine --> 4 years of college + 4 years medical school + 3 years residency = 11 years)

*We must stimulate interest in the profession in the pre-college years and fix our practice climate