Removing Career Obstacles for Young Physician-Scientists — Loan-Repayment Programs

The pool of physician-scientists is dwindling, as it has been for more than two decades.1,2 There are many reasons for this problem,317 but the most important one involves the initial decision whether to pursue a career in research.16,17 When considering a career as a physician-scientist, students must weigh their interest in research against three factors: accumulated debt, a long period of training, and the uncertainty of success. These factors deter many persons from pursuing careers in research. In 1983, the total number of physicians in the United States was 479,439, and the number of physician-scientists was 18,535 . . .