Why are Gen Z med students avoiding going into primary care?

Well, despite how essential these roles are, they don’t pay as well as specialty doctor roles.

They’re also notorious for requiring a ton of administrative work. As a result, this primary care doesn’t hold the same prestige as other specialties, meaning those working in these roles tend to experience a high level of contempt from their peers.

The negative perception of primary care is so widespread there is a term for it in the medical world: specialty disrespect. This culture impacts about 80 percent of students and can be discouraging for those who envisioned themselves working in primary care throughout their career.

When it’s time for med students to be assigned to a residencies, most are hoping to get their preferred specialty, competing against each other for spots in neurology, cardiology, oncology, or dermatology departments. But not everyone gets what they want – and a portion of med students will end up placed into primary care.

This is where med students get their first glimpse into the day-to-day life in the field, and for many, it can be extremely eye opening. Specialty doctors are known to enjoy higher pay and a better work-life balance, while those employed in primary care practices struggle with a lack of resources and a revolving door of daily patients.

Many third-year med students recount noticing how stressed out doctors are in these facilities, causing many of those who may have wanted to go into the field to change their minds.

According to 2021 figures by the Primary Care Scorecard, 37 percent of all residents start their training in primary care, but after three to five years, only 21 percent remained.

Many go on to subspecialize in fields like endocrinology or rheumatology or work in hospitals. Around 1 in 5 young people report considering leaving the healthcare industry altogether.

So what do we learn from this?

Despite primary care being the backbone of the healthcare system – these doctors are typically the first point of contact when someone is experiencing a medical issue – the general consensus is that those working primary are overworked and undervalued.

With this knowledge, it shouldn’t exactly be groundbreaking to hear that young people are avoiding this field and expressing a desire to work in a field that is respected and valued. Don’t we all have this desire?

Instead of claiming that Gen Z medical students are ‘chasing career clout’ by choosing to become specialty doctors instead of entering primary care roles – as some have – perhaps we ought to look from a different angle.

Consider that today’s youth are some of the most informed about the job market ever. Career websites and internet forums can help young people develop an understanding about what they can expect to be paid and what the experience of working in certain fields is like.

When the patient care system has such a poor track record when it comes to taking care of its employees, is it all that surprising that young med students are avoiding it?

If the healthcare system wants to avoid a shortage of general practitioners in the future, it will have to make a few changes.

To begin with, it could streamline the ‘slog-like’ burden of administration faced by primary carers by incorporating new technology such as Artificial Intelligence to help sort and manage patient data.

The use of AI tools could help manage appointment scheduling, address staff shortages, and would free up additional time for doctors to speak with patients and get a clearer understanding of their concerns. It could also recuperate patient communication, improving efficiency and clarity.

Training systems, especially those that help doctors gain cultural competency and close gaps in medical knowledge – can also be offered to make working in primary care roles more rewarding and dynamic for med students.

Finally, promoting interdisciplinary care by opening up opportunities to work collaboratively with specialized doctors  to provide a wider range of services.

By working collaboratively and sharing ideas across federations and networks, this can also help new models of care, new staff roles to emerge, and reduce the risk of leaving primary carers feeling unsupported or isolated in their work.

In the end, young people want jobs that offer stability and where they can make a real impact. However, this generation is more aware of work-life balance, their alternative career opportunities, and their mental and physical wellbeing than any other.

Gen Z is already influencing the corporate world into changing its uptight ways. They may bring positive influence to the healthcare system too, if the sector can make the necessary changes to convince them to stay.