By Adedayo Akande, President — University of Health Sciences, Antigua

Shifting factors in demographics, healthcare demand, and physician practice patterns have created a perfect storm in the US healthcare system. First, the country’s baby boomer population reached the age of needing more extensive healthcare services and greater time with physicians. Next, a trend toward medical specialization created a physician shortage, resulting in dwindling numbers of healthcare specialists in rural and underserved areas. 

The soaring costs of medical schools continue to compound these factors by discouraging medical students from pursuing primary care specialties and practicing in underserved areas. In short, the physician workforce is aging, and not enough new blood is stepping in to fill the ranks.

Effects of the physician shortage on healthcare in the US

You do not have to dig deep to see the profound effects of the physician shortage on healthcare in the United States. All across the country, we are seeing longer wait times for appointments, more limited access to care in underserved areas, an increased burden on existing healthcare providers, and higher overall costs for healthcare. 

If you are a patient in an urban area, you will likely encounter routine delays in your diagnosis and treatment. If you are a patient in a rural or underserved community, then you may not even have access to a primary care physician in your area. Like many others in these regions, you may now rely on emergency departments and clinics for your routine care. 

The shortage is not taking a toll on patients alone, however. Healthcare workers are tasked with increased workloads and unrealistic expectations, meaning they lack the time to care adequately for their growing patient load. 

As a result, a recent survey reveals that 96% of medical professionals believe burnout is a serious problem. In fact, research shows that 79% of primary care doctors experience burnout during their careers, and over one-third would not recommend the career path to a younger family member.

Solving the physician shortage 

Improving healthcare in the US is not a simple task. Because many factors contribute to the problem, a multi-faceted approach is required — one which involves coordinated efforts from medical schools, healthcare providers, policymakers, and government officials. But before we can hope to see positive change, we need to increase the number of medical residencies, expand loan repayment programs, and incentivize physicians to practice in underserved areas.

This shortage in the medical sector is a global issue that affects countries all around the world, particularly those with aging populations. To address the issue, some countries have increased funding for medical education and expanded medical school enrollment. Others have streamlined the medical licensing process to attract more foreign-trained physicians. Still, others have implemented telemedicine and other technologies to improve access to healthcare in remote and underserved areas.

How international medical schools can help remedy the physician shortage

When it comes to alleviating the US physician shortage, one piece of the puzzle actually lies outside the geographical borders of the US. Like other international medical schools, the University of Health Sciences Antigua is addressing the US physician shortage by recruiting and training students interested in practicing medicine. 

We model our curriculum to meet the requirements of US medical schools and licensing exams. In addition, we partner with US-based hospitals and clinics to provide clinical training opportunities for our students. We offer this valuable exposure to help our graduates obtain residencies and job opportunities within the US healthcare system.

Throughout their education, we connect our students with experienced physicians. These mentors provide advice and guidance on career paths, residency options, and job opportunities. We offer clinical training opportunities that help our students gain practical experience and research opportunities that allow our students to explore various areas of medicine, and thoroughly prepare students for licensing exams, such as the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). This increases their chances of obtaining residencies and practicing medicine in the US. And finally, our student support services provide the mental health counseling, academic advising, and financial aid resources that students need to successfully navigate the challenges of medical school. All of this support empowers our students to make informed decisions about their careers and improve their chances of long-term success in the medical profession.

Both international and US medical schools play a role in addressing the current physician shortage. While US medical schools train a majority of the country’s physicians, their graduates are not meeting today’s demand for healthcare services in certain specialties and geographic areas. International medical schools can help fill the gap by training both US and foreign medical graduates who choose to practice in the US. 

At the University of Health Sciences Antigua, our student demographic is primarily US students who go on to practice in the United States. The student body includes top-performing graduates from US-based universities, but they encounter a challenge when applying for admission to highly competitive medical schools in the US. These schools regularly receive upwards of 10,000 applications for less than 200 slots. This talent bottleneck is addressed as qualified applicants attend and graduate from international medical schools, such as the University of Health Sciences Antigua.

Dr. Adedayo Akande is a Chicago-born/Antigua-raised businessman and academic. He is the Chairman and President of the Caribbean-based Medical University, the University of Health Sciences Antigua. During his tenure as President, UHSA has witnessed numerous developments. UHSA successfully moved online during the pandemic, he’s developed several international partnerships with hospitals, universities, and high schools creating pathways for interested students to pursue medicine. He also partnered with Revive Therapeutics’ research program in a commitment to studying psychedelic medicine or mental health therapies. Students attending UHSA will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with these budding therapies in addiction, PTSD, and more.