Shortage of Doctors?

If medical schools do not gear themselves to near-war conditions, the U.S. will have a dangerous doctor shortage by 1954. This warning was sounded in Chicago last week by Dr. Howard A. Rusk, adviser to the National Security Resources Board.

In 1949 there was one physician to every 850 people in the U.S. To maintain this "adequate" ratio, said Dr. Rusk, and provide for 5,000,000 men in uniform, medical education will have to be speeded up. At the present education rate, Dr. Rusk foresees a shortage of 22,000 doctors in 1954. His recommendations: i) increase the enrollment of medical schools by 15%; 2) speed up medical education by cutting vacations.

Sharpest disagreement came from Dr. Frank G. Dickinson, A.M.A. economist, who said: "As a result of present trends we are more likely to have a surplus of physicians in the 1960s." Doctors, he said, are "more productive" now.

Other medical men took middle views. "The nation needs more physicians today," said Dr. Joseph C. Hinsey, dean of Cornell University Medical College, "[but] we must keep our eye fixed on the excellence of their training. One thoroughly trained physician is worth two half-baked ones." Dean George P. Berry of the Harvard Medical School warned that the cost of expanding medical education would be tremendous. "Both private and public help are necessary."

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