title: Influence of Medical Student Debt on the Decision to Pursue Careers in Primary Care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if medical student debt has an effect on medical student specialty choice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was distributed to students at 12 medical schools across the United States to assess the effect of debt on specialty choice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 415 students responded to the survey; 98 medical students reported that they were pursuing a primary care residency (PCR) and 250 reported that they were pursing a non-primary care residency (NPCR). There was no significant difference in average student loan debt anticipated by medical students pursing PCR and NPCR ($142,217 vs $150,784; P>0.46). Medical students pursuing a PCR reported lower estimated salaries on average than medical students pursuing NPCR ($137,711 vs $241,804; p<0.01). Of the surveyed students, 62% of students who are pursuing PCR and 77% of the students who are pursuing a NPCR would not have pursued medicine as a career if residents were responsible for paying tuition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed no significant difference between the student debt of medical students pursuing PCR compared to those who are pursuing a NPCR. However, a large majority of medical students would not pursue a career in medicine if faced with the responsibility of paying tuition for residency. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2016-07.asp, free with no login].
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Waryasz
authors.affiliation: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Alan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Daniels
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014146:Training Support / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: careers; medical student debt; primary care salaries; residency tuition