Dr. Karp attributed much of the recruitment success to the large fellowship program at UTSW. “We train eight fellows, four each year. Last year, we had 220 applicants for our four positions, so we can be very intentional about our selections for fellows with the idea that some of them might become our next faculty members,” he explained. It also likely helps that the division draws from the internal medicine program, which is headed by a rheumatologist.
“We’ve been very lucky in our ability to hire the right people,” Dr. Karp added, “and I’m just sorry that we can’t hire and train more so that they can go work in what I’ve heard tonight are some really great opportunities in the community.”
The Town Hall on Physician Recruitment was co-moderated by:
- Marcus Snow, MD, FACR, assistant professor, internal medicine, and practicing rheumatologist, University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Rheumatology, Omaha, and a member of CORC; and
- Donald E. Thomas Jr., MD, FACP, FACR, RhMSUS, CCD, practicing rheumatologist, Arthritis and Pain Associates of Prince George’s County, Greenbelt, Md., and a member of CORC.
The ACR Workforce Solutions Committee is currently working to address the workforce shortage and will be presenting practical options in coming months.
Leslie Mertz, PhD, is a freelance science journalist based in northern Michigan.
Reference
- Battafarano DF, Ditmyer M, Bolster MB, et al. 2015 American College of Rheumatology workforce study: Supply and demand projections of adult rheumatology workforce, 2015–2030. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018 Apr;70(4):617–626.
