“Specialty disrespect” is causing a shortage of Gen Z becoming doctors. Although the number of med students has grown by 17% in the past decade, according to Business Insider, and while many Gen Z report wanting to become doctors, a bias against primary care is steering them away from fields like family medicine, pediatrics, and internal medicine. These specialties, which are crucial for long-term patient care (especially as the demand for elder care rises), are often seen as less prestigious, and come with lower salaries and heavier administrative burdens. Many Gen Z med students, who prioritize work-life balance and financial stability, instead feel pressured to pursue high-paying specialties instead. As a result, the U.S. is on track to face a shortage of nearly 90K family physicians by 2037. Without systematic changes, the medical field risks losing an entire gen of doctors to more lucrative medical career paths. (Business Insider)
👀 Read more from YPulse: Gen Z Might Be Changing Their Mind About Going to College
