Inside STAT: Why two doctors trained in primary care are changing course

Despite warning signs about a looming national shortage of primary care physicians, burnout, and the burdens of paperwork, two doctors in training were still working toward becoming primary care specialists. Until they weren’t. In a new First Opinion for STAT, Richard Joseph and Sohan Japa outline why, despite being on track to finish up their residencies in less than two weeks, they will not be becoming primary care doctors. Among the many reasons they share is how primary care physicians are not compensated fairly — which can be detrimental after incurring substantial medical school debt — and how physician training tends to consider training for outpatient services an afterthought. Read more here.