Osteopathic physician location and specialty choice

Area of Science:

• Osteopathic medicine
• Medical education
• Rural health disparities

Background:

• Physician distribution is a persistent national issue, impacting healthcare access.
• Projected physician oversupply by 1990 did not resolve rural distribution challenges.
• Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCOM) graduates show a high rate of entering rural primary care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key factors influencing KCOM graduates' selection of rural primary care.
• To understand the specific influences within osteopathic medical education on practice location.
• To provide insights for improving rural physician recruitment and retention.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of physicians graduating from KCOM between 1930 and 1974.
• Analysis of factors including hometown size, curricular experiences, and faculty role models.
• Examination of influences specific to osteopathic medical training.

Main Results:

• The size of a physician's hometown was a significant factor in choosing rural practice.
• Curricular experiences at KCOM played a crucial role in influencing practice location.
• Faculty role models were identified as highly influential in guiding graduates toward rural primary care.
• These findings align with general physician studies but offer unique insights into osteopathic medicine.

Conclusions:

• Hometown background, medical school curriculum, and faculty mentorship are critical in directing physicians to rural primary care.
• These factors can be leveraged to encourage more physicians to practice in underserved rural areas.
• This study is the first to specifically examine these influences within the context of osteopathic medical education.