Primary care doctors are in short supply. USC Family Medicine is doing something about it

There’s a problem brewing at the foundation of the medical system: a global shortage of primary care physicians. 

In the United States, three in 10 people report having difficulty accessing primary care. A shortfall of more than 13,000 U.S. primary care clinicians today is expected to worsen in years ahead, with the Association of American Medical Colleges predicting it could grow to as much as 4o,400 by 2036. A shortage in clinicians can lead to poorer health outcomes for patients who lack access to primary care, higher costs, more redundant medical care and more burnout for doctors remaining in the field.  

“Investing in primary care is critically important for the well-being of our communities,” said Jehni Robinson, MD, chair and clinical professor of family medicine and associate dean for primary care at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “Studies have repeatedly shown that the concentration of primary care in a community is related to better health for the people who live there.”

Indeed, research indicates that an increase in 10 clinicians per 100,000 people can increase life expectancy by 51 days. Primary care also makes health delivery more efficient; every dollar invested reduces overall health care costs by $13.

That level of impact makes sense. Primary care clinicians are the principal source of important preventive care, guiding their patients in choices that lower their risk for disease and detecting health issues early when they are easier to treat. These doctors also serve as a gateway to essential assistance that spans the clinic and beyond. 

“Primary care is where the most foundational health care needs are met,” said Jo Marie Reilly, MD, MPH, a professor of family medicine and founding director of the Primary Care Initiative at the Keck School of Medicine. “A lack of primary care clinicians means those needs aren’t getting met. Those patients are not getting help navigating to specialty care and other services they may need, such as addressing immunizations and cancer screening.” 

The USC Department of Family Medicine is tackling the primary care shortage on multiple fronts. The department’s efforts form an expansive pipeline to the primary care workforce that includes K–12 outreach visits and mentoring for high schoolers and undergraduates through initiatives such as the PA Pathways Program. 

A highly rated Primary Care Physician Assistant Program equips graduates to serve patients where health care needs are the greatest, with an emphasis on underserved populations throughout California. And two cornerstone offerings focus on providing medical trainees with the skills they need for success offering comprehensive care. 

For medical students, the Primary Care Program offers a specialized pathway that focuses on exposing them to the breadth and scope of what primary care encompasses. More than a decade in, the program’s successes suggest an example that can be emulated at other institutions. Meanwhile, the Family Medicine Residency Program, established in 2021, offers clinical experiences across a range of medical facilities to prepare practitioners capable of meeting primary care needs in any setting. 

“We have a lofty goal,” said Joanne Suh, MD, director of the Family Medicine Residency Program and a clinical assistant professor of family medicine. “We want to graduate family doctors who are well-trained to provide primary care to anyone, anywhere.”

Read more about the Primary Care Program.

Read more about the Family Medicine Residency Program.