title: The evolving surgeon shortage in the health reform era.
abstract: The evolving surgeon shortage is occurring at a time of societal change. For one of the first times in history, a scientific revolution is occurring while the organization of health care is also changing. With a demand for a more quality health care and a population that has both aged significantly and grown by ten million citizens each decade, the shortage of health care providers is problematic. For surgery, the shortage is particularly challenging. In 1981, 1047 surgeons were certified by the American Board of Surgery; in 2008, that number had dropped to just 909.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Social Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 7050, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7050, USA. gsheldon@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: George F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Sheldon
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D005762:Gastroenterology; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D013043:Specialties, Surgical; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce