Primary care physicians are the backbone of healthcare systems, providing essential preventive care and guiding patients through the complexities of medical specialties. However, a global shortage of these vital doctors is a growing concern, threatening the accessibility and effectiveness of healthcare for communities worldwide. Recognizing this critical gap, the Keck School of Medicine of USC has proactively developed the Primary Care Initiative (PCI) and its cornerstone, the Primary Care Program, designed to inspire and equip more medical students to choose primary care as their specialty. This innovative program is proving to be a successful model for cultivating the next generation of primary care physicians, particularly those dedicated to serving underserved populations.
Addressing the Primary Care Physician Shortage Through Targeted Education
The scarcity of primary care physicians is not just a number; it’s a systemic issue that impacts patient outcomes and healthcare equity. These doctors are crucial for early disease detection, chronic disease management, and coordinating patient care across various specialists. The Primary Care Initiative at the Keck School of Medicine of USC directly tackles this challenge through its Primary Care Program. Launched in 2011 by the Department of Family Medicine, this program offers a specialized pathway for a diverse group of medical students passionate about community-based primary care. A core focus is on serving urban underserved communities, integrating this commitment throughout their medical education.
USC Primary Care Program Alumni with Program Director Dr. Jo Marie Reilly. This photo showcases alumni including Michael Etzel, MD, Michelle Hao, MD, Jodie Guller, MD, Dr. Reilly, Andrea Banuelos Mota, MD, Jen Perdomo, MD, and Joel Solis, MD, highlighting the program’s community and leadership.
The USC Primary Care Program: A Model of Success
The effectiveness of the Primary Care Program is underscored by a recent study that examined the career paths of its alumni. This research, unique in its focus on both postgraduate training and actual career choices of practicing physicians, revealed compelling results. An impressive 71% of the 86 survey respondents successfully matched into primary care residencies, specializing in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, or medicine-pediatrics. Furthermore, among alumni who were practicing or nearing completion of their residency, 70% were actively engaged in primary care or firmly committed to pursuing it.
Dr. Jo Marie Reilly, MD, MPH, the founding director of PCI and a professor of family medicine at the Keck School of Medicine, emphasizes the program’s unique approach: “There’s a paucity of role models in medical schools who are primary care physicians. We provide a forum for students to see the breadth and scope of primary care services and envision what their own careers could be.” This nurturing environment, combined with practical experience, is a key differentiator of the program.
The findings of this study were published in the Family Medicine journal, co-authored by Dr. Isabel Edge, assistant director of PCI, and Ilana Greenberg, MPH, PCI manager, further lending credibility to the program’s impact.
Cultivating a Lasting Commitment to Primary Care and Underserved Communities
A particularly striking statistic from the study is that 40% of USC Primary Care Program alumni who chose internal medicine residencies went on to practice or intend to practice primary care. This is significantly higher than the national average, where only 10% to 15% of internal medicine residents typically enter primary care. The majority pursue hospitalist positions or sub-specialize in fields like oncology or cardiology.
Dr. Reilly notes, “Our training at the Keck School of Medicine seems to be protective of students’ interest in primary care.” The program’s immersive nature, with students actively working within communities, fosters a deep appreciation for the patient-physician relationship in primary care. “We hear from them that the continuity of care and long-term relationships they can form with patients are very meaningful. For many, this is why they originally went into medicine,” she explains.
Reflecting the program’s core mission, 90% of alumni in practice are serving urban communities, and 77% accept Medicaid or Medi-Cal, indicating a strong commitment to underserved patient populations. Beyond clinical practice, alumni are also actively engaged in mentorship (60%), teaching (62%), medical leadership (31%), and advocacy (24%), demonstrating a holistic approach to healthcare.
Dr. Edge highlights this broader perspective: “We emphasize that care goes beyond being a physician. We encourage mentorship, leadership and advocacy in the program because it’s simply natural to do this in primary care.”
Diana Webb Ramos, MD, a Primary Care Program alumna, presenting her research poster at the KSOM Family Medicine Research Day. This image exemplifies the program’s emphasis on academic inquiry and student achievement in primary care research.
A Blueprint for the Future of Primary Care Education
Dr. Edge describes the Primary Care Program as fostering a strong sense of community. Students who enter the Keck School of Medicine with an interest in primary care find a supportive network of peers, family medicine faculty mentors, and experienced physician preceptors in community practices. This supportive environment is crucial for nurturing their initial passion.
“There’s something to be said for retaining and nourishing the interest that students start out with,” Dr. Edge states. “We want them to hold onto that through medical school and come out even more dedicated to working in primary care. I think the community is a big part of that.”
The success of the USC Primary Care Program has inspired its leaders to share their model with other medical schools. By documenting and disseminating their curriculum and approach, they aim to broaden the program’s impact and contribute to addressing the national primary care shortage on a larger scale.
Dr. Reilly concludes, “Students come to us idealistic about how they want to practice medicine. Our efforts demonstrate the integrative, comprehensive and holistic patient care that is possible in primary care. Our curricula keep their passions alive. The long-term picture is that the Primary Care Program has been a successful training model in California and we’re also trying to share this work with our colleagues nationally.”
Dr. Edge adds, “We can’t make up for the primary care shortage all by ourselves. The hope is that as we show evidence for efficacy, that will serve as an impetus for colleagues elsewhere who are training the future physician workforce.” The USC Primary Care Program offers a promising and proven pathway to inspire and train the primary care physicians needed to meet the growing healthcare demands of communities everywhere.
