Statistics About Who Practices Medicine in the US--and Where

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>A Census of Actively Licensed Physicians in the United States, 2012</p>

<p><a href="http://www.fsmb.org/pdf/census.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.fsmb.org/pdf/census.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
This census of actively licensed physicians in the United States and the District of Columbia represents data received from state medical boards in 2012 by the Federation of State Medical Boards. It demonstrates that the total population of licensed physicians (878,194) has expanded by 3% since 2010, is slightly older, has more women, and includes a substantive increase in physicians who graduated from a medical school in the Caribbean.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Highlights:</p>

<p>92% of currently licensed physicians hold MD degrees; 7% hold DO degrees</p>

<p>From 2010 to 2012, the number of physicians with a DO degree and an active license increased by 8%, compared to a 3% increase in the number of licensed physicians with an MD degree.</p>

<p>76% of all licensed physicians graduated from a US or Canadian medical school; 22% are IMGs</p>

<p>While the total number of IMGs with an active license in the United States increased by only 4% since 2010, the number of physicians who graduated from a school in the Caribbean increased during that time period by 14%.</p>

<p>67% of licensed physicians are male; 30% female</p>

<p>The average age of a licensed female physician is 46; the average age for male physician is 52.</p>

<p>The number of physicians in the South Atlantic, Pacific and West South Central divisions increased by 9% or more from 2010 to 2012, while the New England and West North Central divisions experienced decreases of more than 5%</p>

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<p>The DO % seems very low with current trends. Could it be that those with DO degrees also board certified by the allopathic boards are included in the 93%? The article states the information source is the licensing boards. Just curious.</p>