title: Creation of an advisory group for physician workforce studies in obstetrics and gynecology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A projected shortage of obstetrician-gynecologists prompted us to query other major national medical and surgical organizations about internal efforts to examine their specialty's physician workforce needs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We sought the experience of the top 20 academies, societies or colleges of those medical or surgical specialties. Each organization had approximately 10,000 or more physician members. Those identified as being the most knowledgeable about physician workforce efforts in their specialty were asked to electronically complete a 14-question survey about the existence, structure and function of any workforce office or advisory group in their specialty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each organization responded to the survey. A task force, permanent committee or office (in large organizations) was formed to ascertain their specialty's workforce needs and projections. The results prompted the Executive Board of the American Congress of Obstetricians-Gynecologists to approve in July of 2010 the creation of an advisory group to conduct research and inform members about trends that affect the obstetrician-gynecologist workforce nationally and in individual districts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In response to the potential shortage of obstetrician-gynecologists, an advisory group was approved by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to undertake workforce studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. wrayburn@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Rayburn
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McReynolds
authors.forename: Erika C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Elwell
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salsberg
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009774:Obstetrics; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce