As doc shortage looms, med school enrollment hits all-time high

New data from the Association of American Medical Colleges indicates that nationally, first-year enrollment in medical schools hit an all-time high this fall and has increased nearly 20 percent from 10 years ago (Source: "Medical school enrollment continues to grow nationwide," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Oct. 23, 2012).

THE AAMC report (pdf, 8 pages) found that there are 19,517 first-year enrollees nationwide in allopathic schools that grant M.D. degrees, a 1.5 percent increase over last year and an 18 percent increase from 2002. Osteopathic medical colleges had just under 6,000 first-year students nationwide this fall for a 3.5 percent increase over last year. 

AAMC President Dr. Darrell Kirch said the uptick in enrollment is important because the nation is expected to experience a shortage of about 90,000 physicians by 2020. "We need to address this issue now before patients start to notice," he said.