1. Medical Student Debt and Specialty Choice
Maryjean Schenk, MD, MPH, MS
Vice Dean for Medical Education
Professor, Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences
Wayne State University School of Medicine

2. Focus on Primary Care
“Primary care is the provision of integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community.”
Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine, General Pediatrics

3. Pathway to Primary Care Practice
Pathway to becoming a board certified, licensed physician
Undergraduate degree (4 years)
Medical school (4 years)
Residency (Primary Care) (3 years)

4. Medical Student Debt

5. Residency Choice and Specialty Income

6. Solutions?
Reduce or resolve disparities in physician incomes by specialty (value versus volume)
Scholarships for medial students who match into family medicine residencies
Trade debt for service programs (federal and state with emphasis on physician distribution)
Support education mission of family medicine departments