Association Between Title VII Funding for Medical Schools and Physician Workforce Outcomes
Investigators: Ryan Kandrack, Erin P. Fraher, Thomas C. Ricketts
Objective: To examine the association between attending a Title VII-funded medical school and probability of practicing in primary care or underserved communities.
Data/Setting: We used data from the 2016 AMA Physician Masterfile, the Area Health Resource File, the American Community Survey, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, Title VII grants data from the HRSA Data Warehouse, and NHSC participant data obtained from HRSA. The sample included physicians graduating from medical school between 2004 and 2010.
Design/Methods: Cross-sectional multivariable regression analyses of specialty and practice location as of 2016, comparing physicians exposed to Title VII funding during medical school relative and those who were not exposed.
Results: Exposure to both pre-doctoral and departmental Title VII funding was statistically significantly and negatively associated with practicing in a whole county HPSA. The amount of Title VII funding was statistically significantly and negatively associated with practicing in a whole county HPSA. These results were extremely small in magnitude. Exposure to Title VII funding was not statistically significantly associated with any other outcomes.
Conclusions: A longitudinal analysis examining trends before and after receiving Title VII funds and more years of data are needed to more systematically examine the outcomes of Title VII funding.
- Kandrack R, Fraher E, Ricketts T. Title VII funding not associated with practice outcomes in cross-sectional study of physicians graduating medical school between 2004-2010. Carolina Health Workforce Research Center. Policy Brief. September 2018.