2024 Georgia medical school graduate survey report.

2024 Georgia Medical School Graduate Survey Report
Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce Summer 2024 1

Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Table 1: Number of Responses by Medical School ........................................................................................................ 4
Methodology............................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Key Findings from the 2024 Survey ....................................................................................................................................................... 5
Table 2: Gender Distribution by Medical School ........................................................................................................... 7 Table 3: Average Age by Medical School..................................................................................................................... 8 Figure 1: Aggregated Age Distribution ....................................................................................................................... 9 Table 4: Citizenship Status..................................................................................................................................... 10 Table 5: Race/Ethnicity by Medical School ................................................................................................................ 11 Figure 2: Race/Ethnicity Distribution by Medical School .............................................................................................. 12 Table 6: Hispanic Ethnicity by Medical School............................................................................................................ 13 Table 7: Specialty Matched to in Post Graduate Year 1 ............................................................................................... 14 Table 8: Intended Career Specialty ......................................................................................................................... 14 Table 9: Which Georgia GME Programs are in Respondents' Top Three Choices by Intended Primary Care/Core Practice Specialty............................................................................................................................................................. 15 Figure 3: Intended Practice State & Underserved Area of Practice for Those Entering a Primary Care/Core Specialty............. 16 Table 10: Factors Important in Determining Specialty ................................................................................................ 17 Figure 4: Number of Respondents Saying this Factor Had "Strong" or "Moderate" Influence on Choice of Specialty............... 18 Figure 5: Strength of Factors' Influence upon Choice of Specialty ................................................................................. 19 Table 11: Successfully Matched to GME Program ....................................................................................................... 21 Figure 6: Matched to a GME Program by Medical School.............................................................................................. 22 Table 12: In-State (Georgia) or Out-of-State Match ................................................................................................... 23 Figure 7: Location of GME & Breakdown of In-State Matched Students by Medical School ................................................. 24 Figure 8: Matched to GME Program & Match to First-Choice Program ............................................................................ 25 Table 13: Any Georgia GME Programs in Top Three Choices ........................................................................................ 26 Table 14: Number of Georgia GME Programs in Top Three Choices by Medical School ...................................................... 27
2

Figure 9: Number of Georgia GME Programs in Respondents' Top 3 Choices in Match ...................................................... 28 Table 15: Georgia GME Programs in Top Three Choices .............................................................................................. 29 Figure 10: Top 3 Reasons for Leaving Georgia........................................................................................................... 30 Figure 11: Top 3 Reasons for Leaving Georgia by Medical School ................................................................................. 31 Other Factors Important to Leaving Georgia for Residency .......................................................................................... 32 Table 16: Overall Perception of Georgia's Residency Training Programs in Respondent's Specialty ..................................... 33 Figure 12: Overall Perception of Georgia's Residency Programs in Respondent's Specialty ................................................ 34 Table 17: Factors Important in Choosing a Residency Program .................................................................................... 35 Figure 13: Strength of Factors' Influence Upon Choice of Residency Program ................................................................. 36 Table 18: Intent to Practice in an Underserved Area and Type of Underserved Area by Medical School ............................... 37 Figure 14: Plan to Practice in Underserved Area & Type of Underserved Area ................................................................. 38 Map: Other States Where Georgia Medical School Graduates Plan to Practice Following Residency ..................................... 39 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................................................................. 40
3

Executive Summary

The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce has conducted an annual survey of graduating medical students from each of Georgia's medical schools since 2008. This survey aims to inform policymakers, medical school administrators, graduate medical education administrators, and other government and non-government agencies about the medical school pipeline. Also, it gives insight into why medical students chose a specialty and residency site and how many intend to ultimately practice in Georgia when their training is complete. This report aggregates the data from responses collected from each of Georgia's five medical schools. The completion rates of each medical school are as follows.

Table 1: Number of Responses by Medical School

Medical School

Total Graduates

Survey Completions

Completion Rate

Emory University School of Medicine

134

113

84.3%

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

245

67

27.3%

Mercer University School of Medicine

99

98

99.0%

Morehouse School of Medicine

74

67

90.5%

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia

183

170

92.9%

Total

735

515

70.1%

This year's MSG survey had more responses than in 2023. In 2023, the MSG survey had 267 completions, or 36.4% of medical school graduates.

4

Methodology
This year, the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce collected medical school graduate survey responses through an online form, which was emailed to the program directors of the state's five medical schools. The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce data team then sent weekly reminders and status update emails to each school until the completion deadline of May 31st. The analyses presented here were conducted using Microsoft Excel.
Key Findings from the 2024 Survey
Demographics
More people identifying as female than male completed the Medical School Graduate survey; 55.6% of survey completers are female. The medical school with the highest percentage of female respondents is Emory (58.6%), while the school with the lowest percentage of female respondents is Morehouse (52.2%).
The average age of all respondents is 28.1 years old. The youngest respondent is 24 years old, while the oldest respondent is 48. PCOM-GA has the oldest average age of respondents at 29.5 years old, compared to MCG whose average age of respondents is 27.4 years old.
A comparable percentage of respondents this year identified as U.S. citizens as last year (98.2% of respondents last year versus 97.7% this year). Two respondents identified as permanent residents, and ten identified with another citizenship status.
In 2024, 44.9% of respondents identify as white. This is lower than that percentage last year (53.5%). Overall, 55.1% of respondents identified as a non-white race/ethnicity (26.8% Asian/Pacific Islander; 18.4% Black/African American; 5.8% multirace; and 4.1% "other"). Morehouse School of Medicine has the highest percentage of respondents identifying as non-white (95.5%) while the school with the lowest percentage of non-white respondents is Mercer (31.6%).
Overall, 8.9% of respondents identify as Hispanic. Morehouse has the highest percentage of respondents (11.9%) who identify as Hispanic, while Mercer has the lowest percentage of respondents (5.1%) who identify as Hispanic.
Intended Practice Location After Residency
69.1% of respondents intend to locate their practice in an underserved area. The school with the highest rate of respondents planning to locate in an underserved area is Morehouse (91.5%); the school with the lowest percentage is MCG (54.5%)
Of those who plan to locate their practice in an underserved area, 67.1% plan to practice in an inner city community. The remaining 32.9% of respondents plan to locate their practice in a rural community.
254 respondents answered that Georgia is the likely state for their practice after residency. Of those, 63.8% listed Atlanta as the likely city. 5

117 respondents intend to practice in a primary care/core specialty in Georgia. Specialty
320 respondents (64.8%) intend to practice in a primary care/core specialty after training. Mercer respondents were most likely to say they intend to practice in a primary care/core specialty (70.4%), while Emory's respondents were least likely (38.9%).
The largest primary care/core specialties respondents intend to practice in are internal medicine (14.8% of total respondents) and family medicine (11.9% of total respondents).
Choice of and Match to Georgia Residency Programs 50.2% of respondents listed a Georgia residency program among their top three choices during the Match. This is slightly higher than last year's percentage (49.8%). Respondents from MCG are those most likely to have a Georgia GME program among their top three choices during the Match (60.4%). Respondents from PCOM are the least likely to have a Georgia GME program in their top three choices (42.2%). 37.8% of respondents who responded that they had a Georgia GME program among their top three choices in the Match listed two or three Georgia GME programs. The three most popular Georgia GME programs ranked by survey respondents are Emory University School of Medicine with (113 selections), Wellstar Health System (62), and Northeast Georgia Medical Center (47).
6

Table 2: Gender Distribution by Medical School

Medical School
Emory University School of Medicine

Female

Male

Total

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

65

58.6%

46

41.4%

111

100.0%

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

39

58.2%

28

41.8%

67

100.0%

Mercer University School of Medicine

53

54.1%

45

45.9%

98

100.0%

Morehouse School of Medicine

35

52.2%

32

47.8%

67

100.0%

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia

93

54.7%

77

45.3%

170

100.0%

Total

285

55.6% 228 44.4%

513 100.0%

7

Table 3: Average Age by Medical School

Medical School
Emory University School of Medicine Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Mercer University School of Medicine Morehouse School of Medicine Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia
Total Respondents Total (Percentage)

Age Grouping

24-29 30-34 35-39

90 59 79 49 123
400 77.7%

22 7 16 17 37
99 19.2%

0 1 1 1 7
10 1.9%

40
1 0 2 0 3
6 1.2%

Average Age
27.8 27.4 27.5 28.1 29.5
28.1

Note: All respondents answered the age question. Averages and total percentages are calculated from the total valid responses (515).

8

Figure 1: Aggregated Age Distribution

Aggregated Age Distribution

Frequency

140

120

117

99 100

80

75

60

54

50

40

38

27

20

15 12

5

7

6

0

1

0

3

2

1

2

1

0

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 43 45 48

Age

9

Table 4: Citizenship Status

Citizenship Status
Citizen (Naturalized or Native-Born) Permanent Resident Other
Total

Number
503 2 10
515

Note: Percentages are calculated from the total valid responses (515).

Percent
97.7% 0.4% 1.9%
100.0%

10

Table 5: Race/Ethnicity by Medical School

Medical School

White

Asian

Black

Multi-Race

Other

Total

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Emory University School of Medicine
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Mercer University School of Medicine

53 46.9% 30 26.5% 19 16.8%

7

6.2%

4

3.5% 113 100.0%

38 56.7% 19 28.4%

4

6.0%

4

6.0%

2

3.0%

67

100.0%

67 68.4% 15 15.3%

9

9.2%

3

3.1%

4

4.1%

98

100.0%

Morehouse School of Medicine

3

4.5%

5

7.5%

47 70.1%

6

9.0%

6

9.0%

67

100.0%

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia

70 41.2% 69 40.6% 16

9.4%

10

5.9%

5

2.9% 170 100.0%

Total

231 44.9% 138 26.8% 95 18.4% 30 5.8% 21 4.1% 515 100.0%

Note: Percentages are calculated from the total valid responses (515).

11

Figure 2: Race/Ethnicity Distribution by Medical School

Race/Ethnicity Distribution by Medical School
100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

Native American/Alaska Native

Other

50%

Multi-Race

Black

40%

Asian

30%

White

20%

10%

0%
Emory University School of Medicine

Medical College of Georgia

Mercer University School Morehouse School of

of Medicine

Medicine

P-COM Georgia

12

Table 6: Hispanic Ethnicity by Medical School

Medical School
Emory University School of Medicine

Are you of Hispanic origin?

Yes

No

Total

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

10

8.8%

103

91.2%

113

100.0%

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

4

6.0%

63

94.0%

67

100.0%

Mercer University School of Medicine

5

5.1%

93

94.9%

98

100.0%

Morehouse School of Medicine

8

11.9%

59

88.1%

67

100.0%

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia 19

11.2%

151

88.8%

170

100.0%

Total

46

8.9% 469 91.1% 515 100.0%

Note: Percentages are calculated from the total valid responses (515).

13

Table 7: Specialty Matched to in Post Graduate Year 1

Table 8: Intended Career Specialty

PGY-1 Specialty
Internal Medicine Family Medicine Emergency Medicine Pediatrics OB/GYN General Surgery Psychiatry Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Internal Medicine/Psychiatry PGY-1 Primary Care/Core Total Transitional/Intern/Preliminary Year Anesthesiology Neurology Orthopaedic Surgery Pathology Other Specialties Non-Primary Care/Core Total

Frequency

% of Total Respondents

114

23.2%

61

12.4%

46

9.3%

39

7.9%

36

7.3%

33

6.7%

27

5.5%

7

1.4%

4

0.8%

367

74.6%

45

9.1%

20

4.1%

11

2.2%

11

2.2%

6

1.2%

32

6.5%

125

25.4%

Note: 23 respondents did not answer this question. Percentages are calculated from the total valid responses (492).

Practice Specialty

Frequency

Internal Medicine

73

Family Medicine

59

Emergency Medicine

45

Pediatrics

40

OB/GYN

37

Psychiatry

30

General Surgery

28

Internal Medicine/Pediatrics

5

Internal Medicine/Psychiatry

3

Primary Care/Core Total

320

Anesthesiology

28

Neurology

16

Cardiology

16

Ophthalmology

13

Orthopaedic Surgery

12

Radiology

9

Pathology

5

Other Specialties

75

Non-Primary Care/Core Total

174

% of Total Respondents
14.8% 11.9% 9.1% 8.1% 7.5% 6.1% 5.7% 1.0% 0.6% 64.8% 5.7% 3.2% 3.2% 2.6% 2.4% 1.8% 1.0% 15.2% 35.2%

Note: 21 respondents expressed uncertainty about their intended specialty. Percentages are calculated from total valid responses (494).

14

Table 9: Which Georgia GME Programs are in Respondents' Top Three Choices by Intended Primary Care/Core Practice Specialty

GME Program
Emory University School of Medicine Wellstar Health System Morehouse School of Medicine Northeast Georgia Medical Medical College of Georgia Atrium Health Navicent HCA Memorial Health/Mercer Northside Hospital Gwinnett Piedmont Macon Medical Center Gateway Behavioral Health AU/UGA Medical Partnership St. Francis-Emory Healthcare Archbold Medical Center Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center AdventHealth Redmond Piedmont Columbus Regional South Georgia Medical Center Total
Total (Percentage)

Family Medicine
2 5 2 6 1 4 2 4
1
1
1 1 29 24.8%

Internal Medicine
4 6 7
3
3 1
2
1
1
29 24.8%

Emergency Medicine
2 6 5 1
1
15 12.8%

Pediatrics
8 3 1
12 10.3%

OB/GYN Psychiatry

1

4

4

3

2

1

2

1

1

3 4

1

10 8.5%

17 14.5%

Medicine/ General Psychiatry Surgery

Total

Percent of Total
Respondents

2

23

19.7%

1

22

18.8%

14

12.0%

1

13

11.1%

10

8.5%

1

7

6.0%

6

5.1%

5

4.3%

4

3.4%

4

3.4%

2

1.7%

2

1.7%

1

0.9%

1

0.9%

1

0.9%

1

0.9%

1

0.9%

2

3

117

1.7%

2.6% 100.0%

15

Figure 3: Intended Practice State & Underserved Area of Practice for Those Entering a Primary Care/Core Specialty
Intended Practice State & Underserved Area of Practice for Those Entering a Primary Care/Core Specialty

Plan to practice in a Primary Care/Core Specialty

Type of Area of Practice

Out of State 203

In State 117

Rural / Inner City 59

Urban 58

Note: 320 Respondents intend to practice in a Primary Care/Core Specialty. 16

Table 10: Factors Important in Determining Specialty

Factor
Lifestyle Competitiveness of Specialty Mentor/Role Model Influence Options for Fellowship Training Future Earning Potential Length of Residency Training Family Expectations Medical Education Debt Job Flexibility

No Influence Number Percent

Strength of Factor's Influence

Minor

Moderate

Number Percent Number Percent

Strong Number Percent

Total Responses

26

5.0%

61

11.8% 179 34.8% 249 48.3%

515

187 36.3% 138 26.8% 142 27.6%

48

9.3%

515

61

11.8%

87

16.9% 177 34.4% 190 36.9%

515

86

16.7%

97

18.8% 130 25.2% 202 39.2%

515

86

16.7% 130 25.2% 192 37.3% 107 20.8%

515

111 21.6% 146 28.3% 156 30.3% 102 19.8%

515

278 54.0%

81

15.7%

98

19.0%

58

11.3%

515

204 39.6% 128 24.9% 109 21.2%

74

14.4%

515

37

7.2%

70

13.6% 194 37.7% 214 41.6%

515

17

Figure 4: Number of Respondents Saying this Factor Had "Strong" or "Moderate" Influence on Choice of Specialty
Number of Respondents Saying this Factor Had "Strong" or "Moderate" Influence on Choice of Specialty

Family expectations 31 17 39 17

51

Medical education debt 30 19 31 25

75

Competitiveness of Specialty 33

26

34 13

83

Length of residency training

55

25

43

34

101

Future earning potential

62

40

57

37

103

Options for fellowship training

83

42

53

50

103

Mentor/role model influence

88

47

68

45

116

Job flexibility

85

52

72

53

146

Lifestyle

90

53

83

56

145

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Emory University School of Medicine Medical College of Georgia

Morehouse School of Medicine

PCOM Georgia

Mercer University School of Medicine

18

Figure 5: Strength of Factors' Influence upon Choice of Specialty

100%

90%

80% 249
70%

60%

50%

40%
179 30%

20%

10%

61

26 0%

Strength of Factors' Influence upon Choice of Specialty

48

58

74

107

102

190

202

142

98

214

109

156

192

81

128

138

130

177

194 146

87 187
61

130

97

278

204

70

111

86

86

37

Strong Influence Moderate Influence Minor Influence No Influence

19

Other Factors Important in Determining Specialty Forty-seven respondents answered the open-ended question citing other factors for choosing their specialty. Six factors emerged as important considerations when choosing their specialties and are described below:
Personal enjoyment and interest (18): Respondents mentioned "love," "passion," "interest," "enjoyment," and "satisfaction" when stating how they felt about the content and subject matter of their specialty.
Opportunities offered by the specialty (13): These respondents mentioned specific clinical and professional opportunities available within the specialty, such as pursuing research interests or their career goals.
Proximity to family or location (8): These respondents mention their hometown and proximity to family. Making a difference for patients (6): These respondents mentioned advocating for patient care or wanting to work with a
specific patient population. Other (2): These responses include Military Match and prior experience in the specialty.
20

Table 11: Successfully Matched to GME Program

Medical School

Yes

No

Total

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Emory University School of Medicine

110

97.3%

3

2.7%

113

100.0%

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

67

100.0%

0

0.0%

67

100.0%

Mercer University School of Medicine

95

96.9%

3

3.1%

98

100.0%

Morehouse School of Medicine

58

86.6%

9

13.4%

67

100.0%

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia 162

95.3%

8

4.7%

170

100.0%

Total

492

95.5%

23

4.5%

515

100.0%

Note: All respondents answered this question. Percentages are calculated from the total valid responses for each school. Of those who did not Match, approximately half (12) intend to practice in a primary care/core specialty.

21

Figure 6: Matched to a GME Program by Medical School

Matched to a GME Program by Medical School

100%

3

90%

3

8

9

80%

28

57 70%

43

27

94

60%

50%

Not Matched

Matched, not First Choice

Matched to First Choice
40%

30%

39

52

53

31

20%

68

10%

0%

Emory University Medical College of Mercer University Morehouse School of PCOM-Georgia

School of Medicine

Georgia

School of Medicine

Medicine

22

Table 12: In-State (Georgia) or Out-of-State Match

Medical School Emory University School of Medicine

Location of Matched Program

Georgia

Out-of-State

Number Percent Number Percent

25

22.7%

85

77.3%

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

15

22.4%

52

77.6%

Mercer University School of Medicine

41

43.2%

54

56.8%

Morehouse School of Medicine

31

53.4%

27

46.6%

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia

59

36.4%

103

63.6%

Total

Number 110 67 95 58 162

Percent 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Total

171

34.8%

321

65.2%

492

100.0%

Note: 23 respondents (those who did not Match) did not answer this question. Percentages are calculated from the total valid responses for each school.

23

Figure 7: Location of GME & Breakdown of In-State Matched Students by Medical School
Location of GME & Breakdown of In-State Matched Student by Medical School

Out of State 65.2%

In-State 34.8%

PCOMGA
34.5%

Mercer University School of Medicine
24.0% Morehouse School of Medicine 18.1%
Emory University School of Medicine
14.6%

Medical College of Georgia
8.8%

24

Figure 8: Matched to GME Program & Match to First-Choice Program

Matched to a GME Program & Matched to a First Choice Program

Matched to a GME Program

Matched to a First Choice Program

No 4.5%

Yes 95.5%

First Choice 49.4%
Not First Choice 50.6%

25

Table 13: Any Georgia GME Programs in Top Three Choices

Medical School Emory University School of Medicine Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Mercer University School of Medicine Morehouse School of Medicine Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia
Total

No Number Percent

69

61.1%

Yes Number Percent

44

38.9%

Total Number Percent

113

100.0%

42

62.7%

25

37.3%

67

100.0%

37

37.8%

61

62.2%

98

100.0%

26

38.8%

41

61.2%

67

100.0%

71

41.8%

99

58.2%

170

100.0%

245

47.6%

270

50.2%

515

100.0%

Note: Percentages are calculated from the total valid responses (515).

26

Table 14: Number of Georgia GME Programs in Top Three Choices by Medical School

Medical School
Emory University School of Medicine Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Mercer University School of Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia

One Number Percent

41

95.3%

20

80.0%

37

61.7%

29

72.5%

39

39.4%

Two Number Percent

2

4.7%

2

8.0%

10

16.7%

5

12.5%

36

36.4%

Three Number Percent

Total Number Percent

0

0.0%

43

100.0%

3

12.0%

25

100.0%

13

21.7%

60

100.0%

6

15.0%

40

100.0%

24

24.2%

99

100.0%

Total

166

62.2%

55

20.6%

46

17.2%

267

100.0%

27

Figure 9: Number of Georgia GME Programs in Respondents' Top 3 Choices in Match
Number of Georgia GME Programs in Respondents' Top 3 Choices in Match

3 17.2%
2 20.6%

1 62.2%

Note: 270 respondents (52.4% of the total respondents) said a Georgia GME program was in their top 3 choices during the Match. The graphic above displays the percentages of the 267 respondents answering the question who had 1, 2, or 3 Georgia programs in their top 3 choices.
28

Table 15: Georgia GME Programs in Top Three Choices

Georgia GME Program
Emory University School of Medicine (Atlanta) Wellstar Health System (Atlanta Metro Area) Northeast Georgia Medical Center (Gainesville) Medical College of Georgia (Augusta) Morehouse School of Medicine (Atlanta) Northside Hospital Gwinnett (Lawrenceville) AU/UGA Medical Partnership-St Mary's Healthcare (Athens) HCA Healthcare/Mercer University School of Medicine (Savannah) Atrium Health Navicent (Macon) Gateway Behavioral Health Community Service Board (Savannah) AdventHealth Redmond (Rome) Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center (Rome) Piedmont Macon Medical Center (Macon) South Georgia Medical Research (Moultrie) Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown (Columbus) Hughston Foundation (Columbus) St-Francis-Emory Healthcare (Columbus) Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center (Athens) Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital (Albany) Archbold Medical Center (Thomasville) Hamilton Medical Center (Dalton)

Number of Responses
113 62 47 42 31 25 20 19 14 10 7 5 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1

Percentage of Total Question Respondents (416) Having this Program in their Top Three Choices
27.2% 14.9% 11.3% 10.1% 7.5% 6.0% 5.3% 4.6% 3.4% 2.4% 1.7% 1.2% 1.0% 0.7% 0.7% 0.5% 0.5% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2%

29

Figure 10: Top 3 Reasons for Leaving Georgia

Top 3 Reasons for Leaving Georgia for Residency

3.5% 2.3% 1.6% 11.1%

Preferred a highly reputable program out of state in specialty area
Family reasons

12.3%

34.0%

Desire to stay in Georgia, but did not match to a Georgia program
Quality of Georgia residency programs

15.1%

19.9%

Higher resident salary Specialty not offered in Georgia

Note: Percentages are calculated from the total valid responses (515). Respondents could choose up to 3 reasons. 30

Figure 11: Top 3 Reasons for Leaving Georgia by Medical School

Top 3 Reasons for Leaving Georgia by Medical School

Lack of residencies with osteopathic recognition

Specialty not offered in Georgia

Quality of Georgia residency programs

Military obligation

Higher resident salary

Preferred a highly reputable program out of state in specialty area

Desire to stay in Georgia but did not match to a Georgia program

Emory

Family reasons

MCG

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90 100

Number of Selections

Mercer Morehouse PCOM

31

Other Factors Important to Leaving Georgia for Residency Two hundred seventy-six respondents gave an open-ended answer on other factors that influenced their choice to leave Georgia for residency. Note that some responses to this question included indicators of multiple factors.
Match (111 respondents): These comments highlighted a practical concern about the matching and interview process which prevented respondents from being able to stay in Georgia for residency training. Many respondents expressed a preference to remain in Georgia but were not chosen for interviews at programs in the state. Some also mentioned that their desired specialty did not have available programs in Georgia.
Program Factors (64): These comments express positive aspects of an out-of-state program. Examples include in-house fellowships, opportunities for medical mission trips, and feeling cared for by program staff.
Leave Georgia (55): Many of these comments indicated a desire to return to Georgia after training. Some of the respondents want to have new experiences and grow outside of Georgia since they have lived in the state for their entire lives.
Other (19): These respondents indicated their desire to leave Georgia for unspecified reasons and their need to be close to family. Political and identity issues (16): These comments implied negative views of Georgia's political and social climate and laws,
particularly regarding the full spectrum of practice. Additionally, some sought to serve specific patient populations and promote greater diversity and inclusion. Military Obligation (11): Respondents are taking up military obligations.
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Table 16: Overall Perception of Georgia's Residency Training Programs in Respondent's Specialty

Rating

Description

1

Georgia programs are among the lowest quality

2

Many other states' programs are better quality

3

Georgia programs are about average

4

Georgia programs are better than many states' programs

5

Georgia programs are among the highest quality

Total Responses

Count
2 63 285 134 29 515

Percent
0.8% 12.2% 55.3% 26.0% 5.5% 100.0%

Note: Percentages are calculated from the total valid responses (515). The median rating is 3.2.

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Figure 12: Overall Perception of Georgia's Residency Programs in Respondent's Specialty

Overall Percention of Georgia's Residency Programs in Respondent's Specialty

60.0%

55.3%

50.0%

40.0%

30.0%

26.0%

20.0%

12.2%

10.0%

5.6%

0.8%

0.0%

1

2

3

4

5

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Table 17: Factors Important in Choosing a Residency Program

Factor Family

No Influence Number Percent

Strength of Factor's Influence

Minor

Moderate

Number Percent Number Percent

Strong Number Percent

Total Responses

86

16.7%

86

16.7% 161 31.3% 182 35.3%

515

Location

26

5.0%

30

5.8%

135 26.2% 324 62.9%

515

Reputation of Residency Program 27

5.2%

60

11.7% 202 39.2% 226 43.9%

515

Fellowship Opportunities

84

16.3% 103 20.0% 155 30.1% 173 33.6%

515

Availability of Residency Positions in Desired Specialty

128

24.9%

100

19.4%

130

25.2%

157

30.5%

515

Resident Salary

124 24.1% 160

31.1% 148 28.7%

83

16.1%

515

Flexibility of Program

63

12.2%

93

18.1% 215 41.7% 144 28.0%

515

Note: Percentages are calculated from the total valid responses (Total Responses column) for each factor.

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Figure 13: Strength of Factors' Influence Upon Choice of Residency Program

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

Strength of Factor's influence Upon Choice of Residency Program

182
161 86 86 Family

83

173

157

144

226

324

148

130

155

215

160 202
100
103 135
93

30 26 Location

60
27 Reputation of residency program

84
Fellowship opportunities

128

124

Availability of Resident salary residency programs in desired specialty

63
Flexibility of program

Strong Influence Moderate Influence Minor Influence No Influence
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Table 18: Intent to Practice in an Underserved Area and Type of Underserved Area by Medical School

Medical School

Intend to Practice in Underserved Area & Type of Underserved Area

Yes

No

Inner City

Percent Intending Rural Underserved Practice

Total Responses

Emory University School of Medicine

36

67

10

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

29

24

14

Mercer University School of Medicine

19

36

43

Morehouse School of Medicine

8

52

7

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia 67

60

43

Total

159 239 117

Total (Percentage)

30.9% 46.4% 22.7%

68.1% 56.7% 80.6% 88.1% 60.6%
69.1%

113 67 98 67 170
515 100.0%

37

Figure 14: Plan to Practice in Underserved Area & Type of Underserved Area

Plan to Practice in an Underserved Area & Type of Underserved Area

Plan to Practice in an Underserved Area

Type of Underserved Area

No 30.9%

Yes 69.1%

Rural 32.9%

Inner City 67.1%

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Map: Other States Where Georgia Medical School Graduates Plan to Practice Following Residency 39

Acknowledgments
This report was produced under the direction of Chet Bhasin, Executive Director; Leanna Greenwood, MA, Data Team Supervisor; and Augustine Agbontaen, MSIT, Data Analyst. This document is provided to the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce members on behalf of Executive Director Chet Bhasin.
Board Members:
James Barber, M.D. - Chair William R. "Will" Kemp - Vice Chair Lily Jung Henson, M.D. - Secretary/Treasurer Garrett Bennett, M.D. Carolyn Clevenger, DNP Steven Gautney, MSHA Michael J. Groover, D.M.D. Indran Indrakrishnan, M.D. Amy Reeves, PA-C James Lofton Smith, Jr., M.D. Joseph L. Walker, M.D. William Fricks, M.D. Kitty Carter-Wicker, M.D. Terri McFadden-Garden, M.D.
The Board would like to thank Georgia's medical schools for participating in the survey: Emory University School of Medicine Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Mercer University School of Medicine Morehouse University School of Medicine Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia
The 2024 Georgia Medical School Graduate Survey report can downloaded at healthcareworkforce.georgia.gov. The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce welcomes comments and suggestions for future editions of this report. Please send comments to leanna.greenwood@dch.ga.gov.
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