Medical School Enrollments Show a Modest Increase

The number of U. S. medical students rose for the second year in a row, according to new data released today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). First-time enrollees in the 2006 entering class totaled almost 17,400, a 2.2 percent increase over last year. The AAMC believes a 30 percent increase in total medical school enrollment can be achieved to prevent a future shortage of physicians by increasing class sizes in existing schools as well as building new medical schools.

The total number of medical school applicants for the 2005-2006 school year also increased to 37,364, a 4.6 percent gain over last year's total of 35,735. Driving this increase were more Hispanic and Asian applicants. Overall, applications from Hispanic students rose by 6.4 percent, with applications from Mexican Americans up almost 8 percent over 2004. The number of Asian applicants increased to 7,286 from 6,737, an 8.1 percent increase over 2004. The number of black applicants was essentially unchanged at 2,809, and black enrollment declined slightly to 1,068 from the 2004 total of 1,086. A gain in the number of male applicants also contributed to the overall applicant increase. For the first time in two years, men reclaimed the majority, with 50.2 percent of the applicant pool. This year there were 18,744 male applicants and 18,620 female applicants.

Data indicated that first-time enrollees in the nation's 125 allopathic medical schools grew by 2.1 percent over the 2004 total of 16,648. Twenty-two schools expanded their first-year class size by 5 percent or more; seven of those schools boosted first-year enrollment by more than 10 percent. Half of the 22 schools with the greatest increase in enrollment also have solid records in recruiting family physicians. For example, the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University, where 22.9 percent of graduates from the last three years chose family medicine, saw a 15.4 percent increase in first-year enrollment. The news comes less than a year after the Council on Graduate Medical Education's 16th Report to Congress predicted an overall physician shortage in 10 to 15 years. The report recommended increasing medical school enrollment in the next decade by 15 percent over 2002 levels.

Among the 125 allopathic medical schools, 28 increased their first-year classes between 5% and 9% this fall, the AAMC said. Florida State University College of Medicine in Tallahassee saw the sharpest growth, adding 29 more students for a first-year class of 109, a 36% increase. Boston University School of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia and Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit were among schools that increased enrollment 10% or more. This increase in healthcare careers is also seen in allied health schools and programs. Many future medical students often begin their studies in allied health care professions such as the medical assistant program offered at www.medassistant.org and related fields such as: Physician assistants, nursing, nurse practitioners and radiology technicians just to name a few.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor employment of physicians, surgeons and most related healthcare professions is projected to grow faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014 due to continued expansion of health care industries. The growing and aging population will drive overall growth in the demand for physician services, as consumers continue to demand high levels of care using the latest technologies, diagnostic tests, and therapies. This may be the reason for the modest increase in medical school and allied healthcare program enrollments.