Futuredocs

Futuredocs | The National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists

America is facing a national crisis. At current graduation and training rates, there will soon be a shortage of as many as 150,000 primary care doctors and specialists, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges. This will result in inequality and hardship for large numbers of U.S. citizens.

While the major cause of this shortage will be too few medical schools, it is essential to continue inspiring qualified young people to become doctors and medical scientists. For this to happen, numerous negative messages about joining the profession must be countered.

Additionally, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education will continue to play a critical role in enabling the U.S. to remain the economic and technological leader of the 21st-century global marketplace.

Shockingly, in the United States, virtually everyone can list names of multiple movie stars and athletes, but two-thirds of Americans can’t name a single living scientist, according to a Research!America National Poll.