title: Marketing or strategy? Defining the best approach to expand the anesthesiology workforce in Israel.
abstract: There is a chronic shortage of anesthesiologists in Israel. The study by Cohen et al. suggests that a marketing campaign may be one method of addressing this shortage. This commentary argues for a more comprehensive strategy based on the US experience. This would not only involve marketing as suggested by Cohen et al. but would also involve a fundamental change in the Israel anesthesia care model, as well as providing substantial financial incentives to young physicians. We believe that a combination of these approaches will help to alleviate the shortage of anesthesia providers in Israel. Creating a new class of physician extenders, namely, anesthesiologist assistants, would also provide an employment pathway for the skilled medical technicians trained by the Israel Defense Forces, and other non-physicians with an interest in anesthesiology.
authors: University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, 655 West Eighth Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209 USA.
authors: Michael C
authors: 0000-0002-2062-6006
authors: MC
authors: Lewis
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA.
authors: Gilbert J
authors: GJ
authors: Grant