US medical schools and the rural family physician gender gap.
BACKGROUND
Women comprise increasing proportions of medical school graduates. They tend to choose primary care but are less likely than men to choose rural practice.


METHODS
This study used American Medical Association masterfile data on 1988-1996 medical school graduates to identify the US medical schools most successful at producing rural family physicians and general practitioners of both genders.


RESULTS
The number of listed rural female family physician or general practitioner graduates among schools ranged from 0-27 (0% to 4.4% of each school's 1988-1996 graduates). There were approximately twice as many male as female rural family physicians and general practitioners. Publicly funded schools produced more rural female family physicians and general practitioners than their privately funded counterparts.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that a few schools, most of them public, may serve as models for schools that aim to train women who later enter rural practice.
Ellsbury
K E
KE
Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, USA. ellsbury@u.washington.edu
Doescher
M P
MP
Hart
L G
LG
D000574:American Medical Association; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce