Geographic origin and its impact on practice location in Kentucky

This study examined which medical students from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine are most likely to return to their geographic origins to practice medicine and the frequency with which this occurs. This study is based on statistical analysis of longitudinal data (1974-1985). The database includes 1243 matriculants for whom residency data were available. Follow-up data were available for 1093 physicians-in-practice. Results indicate that a significant percentage of matriculants return to their in-state district of origin to practice. Significant predictors of practice location included gender, undergraduate institution, and residence at admission. However, these factors explained only 8% of the variance in physician practice location. Expanding the model to include location of residency program and specialty choice contributed an additional 14% of the variance. Admissions officers seeking to improve the ratio of graduates practicing in rural areas should devise new measures to assess applicant's attraction to positive aspects of rural medical practice or small town life.