Where do they come from and where do they go: implications of geographic origins of medical students.
BACKGROUND
Can prior places of residence listed on a medical school application predict where a physician will practice in midcareer?


METHODS
Geographic data were analyzed for a cohort of 399 graduates from a single U.S. medical school.


RESULTS
Applicants with origins in the local region had a 40.4% to 49.5% probability of practicing locally in midcareer--an increased likelihood of 6.1 to 7.3 (P < .001) by bivariate analysis. In a logistic regression analysis, residence at birth (odds ratio [OR] = 2.6, P = .019) and at college graduation (OR = 2.8, P = .001) were significant predictors of midcareer practice location, but residence at high school graduation and on application to medical school were not.


CONCLUSIONS
Midcareer practice location is related to geographic origins. Using multiple indicators of geographic origins available at the time of application can allow admissions committees to make higher-quality decisions.
Pretorius
Richard W
RW
Department of Family Medicine, SUNY Clinical Center, Buffalo, NY 14215-3021, USA. pretor@buffalo.edu
Lichter
Michael I
MI
Okazaki
Goroh
G
Sellick
John A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013337:Students, Medical