Across all physician specialties in the United States, there is a projected shortage of 187,130 full-time equivalent (FTE) physicians by 2037 (HRSA, 2024). Physician supply is falling behind patient demand both nationally and in Oklahoma. As the supply gap widens, patients experience longer wait times to see a doctor, and physicians face increasing levels of burnout. Currently, more than 1.1 million Oklahomans, living in communities across 75 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties, are living in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). Additionally, 32.7% of physicians practicing in Oklahoma are within retirement age. The shortage is especially pronounced in rural areas, with a projected 60% deficit in physicians in non-metropolitan areas by 2037 (NIHCM).

Oklahoma’s health workforce is short 451 primary care providers. The state offers only 195 primary care residency slots each year, and more than 42% of those doctors are expected to leave Oklahoma once training is complete. Low-income citizens are disproportionately affected by these shortages. Contributing factors include an aging population with increased chronic disease, recruitment and retention challenges in rural and underserved communities, high administrative burdens placed on providers, and rising labor costs for hospitals and health centers without corresponding reimbursement increases.

Solutions Being Implemented

• Medical school programs: Initiatives like the Rural and Tribal Tracks at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine are designed to recruit and train students from rural and tribal communities, many of whom remain in the state to practice.
• Loan repayment programs: The Physician Loan Repayment Program (PLRP) administered through the Health Care Workforce Training Commission (HWTC) helps attract physicians to rural Oklahoma by offering debt repayment assistance in exchange for service commitments.
• Telehealth: The increased comfort with and use of telemedicine is seen as a way to expand access to care, especially in rural and underserved regions.
• Physician engagement: Health systems like Oklahoma University Health are focusing on mentorship, professional development, and physician involvement in decision-making to improve retention. These efforts are critical as rural areas struggle most to attract and retain doctors amidst rising demand and shrinking supply and exacerbates existing challenges to deliver health excellence, particularly in rural areas.
  

Key Impacts of Physician Shortages

• Longer Wait Times and Delayed Care: With fewer physicians available, parents face extended waits for appointments and treatments, increasing the risk of poorer health outcomes.
• Increased Physician Burnout: Overextended physicians experience higher levels of stress and burnout, which can further accelerate workforce attrition.
• Worsening Rural Health Disparities: Rural communities are hit the hardest, often relying on less comprehensive care models and traveling long distances to reach fully staffed hospitals.

NMF’s Impact in Oklahoma 

National Medical Fellowships (NMF) helps address these shortages by expanding pathways to medical education, supporting leadership development to ensure inclusive clinical research, and strengthening success for medical students and practicing professionals. NMF is collaborating with partners nationwide to address these challenges. In Oklahoma, the organization is proud of its 139 alumni delivering care across the state. These dedicated healthcare professionals serve in 32 of Oklahoma’s 86 (37.2%) medically underserved areas. In Tulsa and throughout Tulsa County, NMF alumni are providing care in community clinics, private practice, and hospital settings at almost three times (277%) the rate of non-NMF providers. 

NMF looks forward to continuing its work to address the physician shortage in Oklahoma and across the country to ensure all patients have access to the high-quality care they deserve.

According to the Mullan Institute, “there is mounting evidence that the current medical services model does not produce desired health outcomes, in large part because the health workforce has limited capacity to identify and address the social, economic, environmental, and behavioral conditions that are estimated to contribute to 80% of health outcomes in the United States.” While the health care workforce cannot address patients’ social needs alone, providers can enhance care in ways that help address the causes of poor health access and quality gaps. At the Tulsa gathering, roundtable participants explored these issues by focusing on health care practice and legacy, how our practices of care for all populations are passed down from generation to generation, and the conditions affecting health outcomes. Anchoring the conversations was the construct of generativity. Erikson and later McAdams framed generativity as “a person’s interest in and dedication to benefitting future generations." (Erikson, 1963; McAdams, 2006) 

The guiding inquiries for this roundtable were:

• How do we foster generativity, concern for establishing and guiding the next generation, to realize the social mission in medical and graduate health education?
• How do narratives about medical practice—such as the roles of physicians, health professionals, and researchers in society—affect the quality of medical practice? What are core values that guide and inform practice?
• How are values and ethics being instilled, transferred, among generations of “healers?” In what ways are current expectations of health care “work” shifting
• What do we need to know to better prepare health care professionals to adapt to the changing dynamics of the field and provide for the future needs of society?

Many aspects of healthcare delivery are changing rapidly, from models of patient care to healthcare practices and the structure and management of healthcare systems. Despite the challenges, roundtable leaders remained optimistic about the future. While they acknowledged the current system’s challenges, participants also expressed enthusiasm for the possibility of significant change, viewing the current landscape as "fresh soil" ripe for new approaches. 

Throughout the roundtable conversations, colleagues explored how to cultivate and sustain a strong, intergenerational network to support aspiring physicians, researchers, and health professionals. Their shared goal is to ensure that future healthcare professionals are empowered, empathic, and compassionate in their care for others.