KCU-Joplin holds graduation ceremonies; Graduates to help fill extreme shortage of primary care doctors

The KCU-Joplin Medical School held graduation ceremonies today [Sunday] at Leggett & Platt Athletic Center at Missouri Southern State University.

More than 150 graduates took part with families and faculty  members in attendance.

The keynote address was given by Georges C. Benjamin, M.D.

A well-known health policy leader, practitioner and administrator, Benjamin currently serves as the executive director of the American Public Health Association, the nation’s oldest and largest organization of public health professionals. He is also a former secretary of health for the state of Maryland. Read his full bio

KCU-Joplin officials reported that more than 50 percent of the new physicians will help fill the extreme shortage of primary care doctors in Missouri, Kansas and around the country.

According to new projections published by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), the United States will face a physician shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036.

AAMC figures show the following:

• By 2036, the U.S. population is projected to grow by 8.4%. Additionally, the population aged 65 and older is projected to grow by 34.1%, with an increase of 54.7% in the size of the population aged 75 and older. Since older Americans tend to need more health care and access more physicians, the AAMC projects this trend will lead to a substantial growth in demand, particularly for the specialists they need most often.
• A large portion of the physician workforce is nearing the traditional retirement age. Physicians aged 65 or older are 20% of the clinical physician workforce, and those between age 55 and 64 are 22% of the clinical physician workforce. As a result, a significant number of physicians will reach retirement age within the next decade — if they have not already. The AAMC projects that this will significantly decrease the physician supply in the coming years.
• In addition, the AAMC examined and found that if communities underserved by the nation’s health care system could obtain care at the same rate as populations with better access to care, the nation would have needed approximately 202,800 more physicians as of 2021. This is more than five times the magnitude of current shortfall estimates based on current utilization.