#1: Americans are getting older. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people over age 65 in the U.S. will double over the next ten years.

#2: Older people are more likely to get sick, which means demand for doctors will rise.

#3: One-third of America’s doctors are about to retire.  

America’s doctors are aging, too. An American Medical Association (AMA) survey found that 35 percent of U.S. physicians are over age 55. Another survey by the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) found that nearly half of all family doctors want to exit the profession within just 3 years!

Bottom line: America needs 100,000 new doctors within the next 10 years.

There’s never been a better time to think about medical school.

To fill the growing demand for new doctors, the American Association of Medical Colleges wants to increase enrollment by 30%. That would open spaces for 5,000 additional medical students every year.

Big opportunities in underserved states.

In 24 states, the physician shortage is already severe. Many states lack primary care physicians, while others are desperately seeking specialists.

In states with high minority populations, such as California and Texas, the demand is especially high for African American and Hispanic physicians.

President Obama’s administration is also looking at ways to encourage young people to become doctors, particularly primary care physicians.

America needs 100,000 new doctors. You could be one of them.

Learn about careers in medicine.