U.S. Shortage of Family Doctors

What is not mentioned in your article is the role of osteopathic medical education in this country in the production of primary care physicians.

The 15 colleges of osteopathic medicine in the U.S. all incorporate a primary care educational commitment with their curricula. Sixty percent of doctors of osteopathy (DO) in the nation practice primary care medicine. While only 14.6% of 1992 allopathic (MD) graduates say they want a career in primary care, 49% of 1992 osteopathic graduates plan to practice in primary care.

At the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, primary care is emphasized in both recruitment and admissions policies. Fifty percent of the required clinical training is in primary care disciplines with many of the sites located in underserved areas.

As a result of this curricular structure, 63% of COMP graduates either practice or are in training in primary care fields. By 1995, COMP will supply 20% of all the new primary care physicians in the Western states.

We feel that our medical college and our sister colleges throughout the country are role models in the areas of educating primary care physicians. For the past 100 years that osteopathic medicine has been in existence, the emphasis has been in educating general practitioners.

PHILIP PUMERANTZ

Founding President, COMP

Pomona