Reflections on Why Pediatrics Does Not Have a Primary Care Physician Shortage at Present

It has been well documented that the United States has a primary care physician shortage for adult patients. In some cities, adult primary care practices are closed to new patients,⁴ and baby boomers wonder if there will be enough primary care physicians to care for them as they age.⁵ For children, on the other hand, there appear to be enough general pediatricians available, but there are inadequate numbers of pediatric subspecialists. Approximately 60% to 80% of internal medicine residents pursue fellowship training, and 20% to 40% choose to practice primary care⁹; in pediatrics, the opposite is true; that is, 60% to 70% of pediatric residents choose primary care and 30% to 40% pursue subspecialty fellowships.¹⁰