Educational Indebtedness and the Career Choices of New Physicians. Report of the Board of Trustees. Report E (I-83) [microform] / John J. Coury

The relationship of indebtedness and career plans at various points of the career development of new physicians was investigated. After initially examining the career plans of graduating medical students, attention was directed to resident physicians who had made some but not all decisions about the future, as well as those who had completed training and had begun practicing medicine. Based on the 1979 and 1983 Surveys of Resident Physicians, it was found that an average level of debt of new physicians was around $13,300 in l979 and over $18,200 by 1983. Those with relatively high debt did not appear to choose more remunerative specialties or practice locations than those with lower debt. In relation to specialty, the highest average debt was incurred by those practicing in psychiatry, obstetrics/gynecology, general/family practice, or anesthesiology. Resident physicians planning to go into research and the armed forces had the lowest level of indebtedness. Other results suggest that physicians in solo practice had higher mean debt than those in other practice modalities. Those planning to practice in urban areas had virtually the same average level of indebtedness as those planning to practice in rural areas. Statistical survey results are included. (SW)