Abigail Geisinger Primary Care Scholars: An Innovative Educational Program Addressing Critical Workforce Needs

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Workforce Development
• Primary Care

Background:

• The United States faces a shortage of primary care physicians, worsened by rising medical education costs and student debt.
• Integrated health systems emphasize primary care for health management, access, and value-based care.
• Recruiting incentives have been insufficient to meet the demand for primary care providers and psychiatrists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program (AGSP) as a novel approach to increase the number of primary care physicians and psychiatrists.
• To assess the effectiveness of a full-tuition and stipend program linked to a service commitment in primary care or psychiatry.

Main Methods:

• The AGSP provides full tuition, fees, and a living stipend as a forgivable loan to students committing to Geisinger in primary care or psychiatry post-residency.
• The program includes preferential clinical placements, enhanced curriculum, and support for a dedicated cohort, with opt-out provisions.
• Outcomes monitored include program withdrawals, academic performance, participant satisfaction, loan repayment vs. service fulfillment, and long-term retention in primary care.

Main Results:

• The AGSP supports 45 students per class, offering financial aid and specialized training.
• Monitoring tracks student commitment, academic success, and program satisfaction.
• Key metrics focus on workforce retention and the program's impact on the primary care physician supply.

Conclusions:

• The AGSP model provides significant financial support and enhanced primary care curriculum, attracting students to needed specialties.
• This initiative aims to strengthen the primary care physician workforce and align with evolving healthcare financing models.
• The program offers a viable strategy for medical schools and health systems to address physician shortages in critical areas.