On the path towards becoming a medical professional, most young students see primary care training as a stepping stone, rather than a final destination. This spells trouble for the healthcare system, unless crucial changes are made.
‘Everybody wanna be a rapper or influencer…. we need DOCTORS!!!!!!’
Reading a tweet like this about a year ago, I had a little chuckle, having recently noticed that several people I knew had given up their corporate jobs and ventured into the world of social media influencing.
It’s not an uncommon switch, with more than half of young people – around 57 percent – saying they aspire to be an influencers. Even grown adults are tempted by the content creator lifestyle, with 41 percent admitting they’d choose to be one if they could.
Indeed, this may sound bad for essential workforces – especially the healthcare sector – as the concerned, aforementioned tweeter expressed.
However, Gen Z is known for wanting stability in their careers. This has made the layoff-prone tech industry lose its appeal while traditional roles become more attractive. A survey taken last year in the US uncovered a rising interest in healthcare work among high-achieving high school students.
Overall, the number of med students across America has risen by 17 percent during the last decade. This is a welcome trend, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the healthcare sector will need far more workers as climate change makes heat-related illnesses, mental health issues, and respiratory problems more common.
Not to mention, an aging doctor workforce and increasing demand for elder care is contributing to an increased need for general practitioners. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis to predict a shortage of about 87,000 family doctors by 2037.
While an overall rising interest in medical studies is encouraging, there are some key areas of concern. Students entering primary care programs – family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB-GYNs, and geriatrics – often end up abandoning the field to specialize.
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.
Deputy Editor & Content Partnership ManagerLondon, UK
I’m Jessica (She/Her). I’m the Deputy Editor & Content Partnership Manager at Thred. Originally from the island of Bermuda, I specialise in writing about ocean health and marine conservation, but you can also find me delving into pop culture, health and wellness, plus sustainability in the beauty and fashion industries. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
A new report reveals millions of mums and children face quietly pervasive economic coercion – with family budgets being used as tools for domestic abuse.
Abuse isn’t always obvious – least not when it takes place in the domestic sphere. But new figures from the charity Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) show that financial coercion is quietly affecting a staggering number of women and children. It’s a form of violence that remains underreported...
Lack of research and misdiagnosis is forcing couples, disproportionately women, into gruelling fertility treatment.
When a couple struggles to conceive, you would expect both partners to be treated equally during the process of diagnosis. But fertility care still leans heavily toward invasive focus on the woman and little attention on the man.
Not only does this imbalance place the onus of fertility struggles onto women, who then face an isolating sense...
On November 4, 2025, 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani was elected as the first Muslim mayor in New York City. And this is largely due to the influence of Gen Z.
After four long years of subpar mayoral leadership, New Yorkers, especially Gen Z, are ready for a change.
As of November 4, 2025, Zohran Mamdani is the change New York so desperately needed. The significance of the 34-year-old's mayoral win extends beyond...
On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, UN Women reveal a disturbing rise in violent abuse toward women in digital spaces – with little consequence for perpetrators.
A few years ago, someone described the internet to me as ‘the world’s biggest public square,’ which sounded charming until I remembered that public squares throughout history have also hosted witch trials, duels, riots, and the occasional beheading.
The past year...
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
0 comments
