Family medicine role models at US medical schools. Why their relative numbers are declining.

A decline in medical student interest in family practice combined with an increasing demand for family physicians by managed care systems and the need to replace family and general practice physicians nearing retirement age make it likely that the future supply of family physicians will not be adequate. Specialty selection by medical students is influenced by the medical education environment, especially the presence of faculty role models. Due to a decline in federal support for family medicine and a growth in sources of medical school support that favor nonprimary care specialties, the proportion of clinical faculty in family medicine has declined. This has occurred simultaneously with declining student interest in family medicine. Suggestions are offered to increase the number and influence of family medicine role models at US medical schools.