Physicians in service to the underserved: an analysis of the practice locations of alumni of Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, 1982-1995.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how many osteopathic medical graduates (DOs) of the Western University of Health Sciences were practicing in underserved communities.


METHODS
Practice address information was available for 765 of the 850 practicing DO alumni who had graduated from the University from 1982 through 1995. Alumni were categorized as practicing in underserved areas or not, following federally established guidelines; they were also categorized by gender, ethnicity, and medical specialty.


RESULTS
Overall, 20.9% of these 765 alumni were practicing in underserved communities. The percentages of alumni practicing in underserved communities by gender, ethnicity, and specialty were: men, 20.9%; women, 21.0%; Caucasians, 20.5%; Asian Americans, 18.0%; African Americans, 25.0%; Hispanic Americans, 32.1%; Native Americans, 33.3%; primary care physicians, 20.9%; and non-primary care physicians, 20.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
Approximately one in five practicing DO alumni of Western University was practicing in an underserved area. Examining these data by sex, ethnicity, and practice specialization suggested only weak associations between subgroup membership and practice in an underserved area.
Gugelchuk
G M
GM
College of Allied Health Professions, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California 91766-1854, USA. gugelchuk@westernu.edu
Cody
J
J
D002140:California; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D010021:Osteopathic Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011365:Professional Practice Location / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012577:Schools, Medical