RT Journal
A1 Rabinowitz HK
T1 ADdressing physician specialty maldistribution
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2009
FD September 23
VO 302
IS 12
SP 1270
OP 1270
DO 10.1001/jama.2009.1351
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.1351
AB 
However, the Editorial did not mention comprehensive medical school programs that focus admissions on medical school applicants who intend to practice in rural areas, have a longitudinal rural clinical curriculum, or both. This approach has been in existence for decades and has been shown to successfully address both the primary care and rural physician shortage.2- 3 A systematic review found that among more than 1600 graduates from 6 such medical school programs in different areas of the country, more than 50% practiced in rural areas.3 The majority of these graduates were practicing family medicine. Outcomes from the Jefferson Medical College rural program have also shown a long-term (11- to 16-year) rural family medicine retention rate of 79%,4 higher than that of the National Health Service Corps. Medical school programs focusing on the urban underserved have also been shown to be successful.5