Physician recruitment and retention in an underserved community: the role of a premedical research program

Physician shortages are prevalent in medically underserved areas, where healthcare disparities hinder physician recruitment and retention. The Hawai'i Pacific Health (HPH) Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) provides early clinical and research experiences to pre-med students from Hawai'i, potentially enhancing their qualifications, supporting medical school acceptance rates, and fostering commitment to practicing in Hawai'i.

To evaluate the association between SSRP participation and medical school admissions, career trajectories, and retention of healthcare professionals in Hawai'i, a medically underserved region.

A 38-year retrospective analysis examined 393 SSRP alumni (1986-2023), tracking educational and career outcomes, such as medical school admission, residency, and practice location, through surveys and internet research.

The program was associated with a 73% medical school admission rate. Of 393 alumni, 221 became physicians, with 74 practicing in Hawai'i. Among those in training, 81% expressed plans to practice locally. The program produced 57 abstracts, 43 posters, 53 oral presentations, and 37 peer-reviewed publications while providing students with clinical exposure and physician mentorship.

Community-based SSRPs may support the recruitment, retention, and cultivation of local students for medical careers and potentially bolster the physician workforce in underserved regions like Hawai'i. By embedding clinical and research experiences within the community, the program is associated with enhanced medical school admissions and may foster long-term physician retention, including subspecialists, in the local healthcare system. This community-engaged approach contributes to medical education literature and provides a replicable model for other underserved areas to build sustainable healthcare workforces.