Family Docs: ; Medical Accomplishment

By Gzedit

WEST Virginia University’s medical school has reason to crow. The school’s graduates are twice as likely to choose family medicine residency programs than medical graduates across the country.

WVU requires all students to spend at least three months rotating through rural sites working with primary care doctors. That effort was designed more than 15 years ago to encourage students to choose medicine in small towns and rural areas over big-city hospitals with lots of technology.

Specialists in large hospitals tend to make more money than primary care physicians, but primary care doctors are usually the first contact a person has with a doctor.

Dr. Norman Ferrari, senior associate dean for medical education at WVU, says the number of Mountain State students who chose primary care medicine shows that other concerns weigh more than money.

Of WVU’s 105 graduates this spring, 19 chose family medicine, 16 chose pediatrics and 12 chose internal medicine. About 41 plan to train in West Virginia hospitals, another welcome report.

For decades, state officials have been frustrated because West Virginia taxpayer money subsidizes the education of medical students, who soon leave for out-of-state career opportunities. While it is understandable, it is difficult for state residents to watch their investments depart.

Where medical students and graduates practice tends to influence where they will eventually settle. We’re glad to hear some are going where the need is greatest.

(c) 2007 Charleston Gazette, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.