DISCUSS: New MD schools

[Mr.Smile12]

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I'm starting to believe I have to put a new thread here specifically for new MD schools coming on line.

Here's the possible newest entry: welcome Rhode Island.

Legislative Commission Recommends New Medical School at URI to Tackle Rhode Island Doctor Shortage - Newport Buzz

A legislative commission recommends creating a medical school at the University of Rhode Island to address the state’s growing primary care doctor shortage and boost the economy.

www.thenewportbuzz.com

 

[LelouchLamperouge]

Dang another school opening to fill a physician shortage in its state and fill primary care roles. I’m all for opening up more schools and give more opportunities, but how are these new schools (with this specific motivation) ensuring that most of their students even go into primary care?

 

[Snazzy_iceberg]

Dang another school opening to fill a physician shortage in its state and fill primary care roles. I’m all for opening up more schools and give more opportunities, but how are these new schools (with this specific motivation) ensuring that most of their students even go into primary care?

Yeah, you can't exactly force your medical students to choose a primary care specialty. Especially with loans and new limits now.

 

[polymerization]

Dang another school opening to fill a physician shortage in its state and fill primary care roles. I’m all for opening up more schools and give more opportunities, but how are these new schools (with this specific motivation) ensuring that most of their students even go into primary care?

I don't remember whether it was on my actual MCAT or one of the FLs that had a whole passage about this, much to my amusement.

Isn't it funny how both patients and physicians dance around the problem of social inequality and then scratch their heads over what the problem really is?

We know why people don't do primary care. Because poor. And we know why the underserved are the underserved and why doctors (even ones who receive massive aid to fund their educations) refuse to go to the places where they might serve them. Because poor.

Ultimately we don't need another medical school at the University of Rhode Island. Brown already occupies that catchment area.

We need another Mayo. An institution massive enough to attract talented students that is willing to put its campus somewhere broadly undesirable, and make attractive offers to funnel their own class into their home residency programs, which has the best chance of settling down new doctors in that area.

Sure, people can still leave after that, but I gather that most people have a tendency to live out most of their working years wherever they get their first attending job.

 

[Rabbsters]

Dang another school opening to fill a physician shortage in its state and fill primary care roles. I’m all for opening up more schools and give more opportunities, but how are these new schools (with this specific motivation) ensuring that most of their students even go into primary care?

They can try to screen and admitting those they think are most likely to stay in state and fill primary care roles. Primary app shows this level of commitment/motivation, secondary questions, interview questions, it's not foolproof and people likely stretch the truth, but really the only way.

 

[Goro]

Dang another school opening to fill a physician shortage in its state and fill primary care roles. I’m all for opening up more schools and give more opportunities, but how are these new schools (with this specific motivation) ensuring that most of their students even go into primary care?

One way would be to offer a signifcant tution break in exchange for a contractual agreement that the student will go into Primary Care.

A student changes mind, then they have to pay back full tuition

 

[Obnoxious Dad]

If Rhode Island has a primary care problem, it won't be solved by opening another medical school or more residency slots. If you look at Table A20 of the AAMC Matriculants data for the last entering class, the average MCAT score for Rhode Island residents was a 512.9 and the US average was 512.1. It isn't that much harder for Rhode Islanders to get into an MD school than the average US resident. Furthermore, if a Rhode Island resident wants to practice in primary care, he or she can always go to one of LECOM's 57 inexpensive campuses. (It is 57, isn't it?)

If you look at the ACGME Data Resource Book, you will see that Rhode Island has 16 residency slots in family medicine out of the country's 5,387. Rhode Island's share of the US population is .33% while its share of family medicine slots is .30%. Furthermore, Rhode Island accounted for .5% of total new residents entering "pipeline" residency programs (i.e. leading to board certification) in 2024-2025. Finally, Rhode Island sits next door to Massachusetts which has a bevy of residency programs.

https://www.acgme.org/globalassets/pfassets/publicationsbooks/2024-2025_acgme_databook_document.pdf

If Rhode Island has a primary care physician problem, it's due to its high malpractice exposure, its high cost of living and high taxes. The average malpractice premium in 2024 for internal medicine physicians in Rhode Island was $13,000 but in Michigan it was about $6,300 and in Wisconsin it was about $3,300. High premiums correlate nicely with horrid legal environments. Ask any physician in Illinois or New York.

Medical Malpractice Insurance by State

Medical Malpractice Insurance by State | Cunningham Group

www.cunninghamgroupins.com

The average annual salary of a Rhode Island family practice physician in 2024 was $244,000 per the BLS which was about the national average. However, at that salary, per Bankrate's cost of living calculator, the cost of living in Providence is 10% higher than Detroit and 24% higher than Indianapolis. Rhode Island has the eighth highest tax burden in the country.

Tax Burden by State in 2026

Tax Burden by State in 2026

wallethub.com

When they say, "It's not about the money", it's about the money.

 

[LelouchLamperouge]

When they say, "It's not about the money", it's about the money.

Is there any instance that family practice doctors would get paid more in an effort to attract more students to enter primary care?

As I write this, I realize that I’m still very naive when it comes to understanding how physicians are reimbursed. I have read about RVUs in a book called “An American Sickness” by Dr. Rosenthal, and I sat there and wondered if it was possible for RVUs for fam med could ever be increased to attract more students to enter that field.

Money can be a big driving force in picking a residency. Shoot… all the kids in my generation nowadays will tell you to “know your worth king/queen”. So, I wonder why it can’t be done.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

University of Georgia is ON THE CLOCK.

They should appear in AMCAS within a month; watch for their announcements.

UGA School of Medicine granted preliminary accreditation - UGA Today

LCME accreditation clears the path for the University of Georgia to recruit future physicians for fall 2026.

news.uga.edu

 

[Med Ed]

Is there any instance that family practice doctors would get paid more in an effort to attract more students to enter primary care?

As I write this, I realize that I’m still very naive when it comes to understanding how physicians are reimbursed. I have read about RVUs in a book called “An American Sickness” by Dr. Rosenthal, and I sat there and wondered if it was possible for RVUs for fam med could ever be increased to attract more students to enter that field.

Money can be a big driving force in picking a residency. Shoot… all the kids in my generation nowadays will tell you to “know your worth king/queen”. So, I wonder why it can’t be done.

It was done, to an extent. FM docs used to make around 120K. Compared to specialist salaries this was very low, even accounting for inflation. One of the effects the ACA had was to gradually increase reimbursement for primary care. Depending on where you work, your level of experience, and how much you work, salaries north of 300K are now possible. So the earnings landscape has changed.

What hasn’t changed is the nature of the job, which simply doesn’t appeal to a lot of people.

 

[wysdoc]

UGA at Athens school thread created here: 2025-2026 University of Georgia at Athens

Applicants need to be quick, they plan to read your apps and make admissions decisions by the end of April!
The basic facts are on the thread and links to their school website are also there

 

[Mr.Smile12]

CUSM gets full accreditation. (from school-specific thread)

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE EARNS FULL ACCREDITATION FOR MD PROGRAM

LCME designation affirms CUSM’s national standing, mission-driven excellence, and commitment to advancing healthcare equity

cusm.edu

 

[Mr.Smile12]

UGA at Athens school thread created here: 2025-2026 University of Georgia at Athens

Applicants need to be quick, they plan to read your apps and make admissions decisions by the end of April!
The basic facts are on the thread and links to their school website are also there

Admissions team has signalled, they are live on AMCAS today.

 

[moltmannfanboi]

One way would be to offer a signifcant tution break in exchange for a contractual agreement that the student will go into Primary Care.

A student changes mind, then they have to pay back full tuition

OHSU does this with their Scholars for a Healthy Oregon program. Full tuition in exchange for going to the central/eastern part of the state. My understanding is that it is pretty competitive/popular.