Specialty choices and practice locales of black graduates from a predominantly white medical school.

PURPOSE

To determine the specialty choices, practice locales, patient populations, and professional achievements of black graduates from a predominantly white medical school.

METHOD

Of the 136 black graduates from the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine (MCGSM) who graduated between 1971 and 1992, 95 had completed residency training and were otherwise eligible to be surveyed regarding their specialty choices, practice locales, and other characteristics.

RESULTS

Seventy of the 95 graduates (74%) responded to the survey, and 50 (73%) were men. Fifty-six (80%) were in primary care (including obstetrics-gynecology as well as family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics). Fifty (71%) practiced in their home state of Georgia, and 32 (46%) served low-income populations. Forty-six (66%) were board-certified, and 20 (28%) had faculty appointments.

CONCLUSION

The black graduates of the predominantly white MCGSM chose primary care specialties and remained in Georgia to a greater extent than did other MCGSM graduates. Like their counterparts from the historically black medical schools, the black graduates from MCGSM--in relatively large percentages--chose primary care specialties and served minority patients, low-income populations, and/or rural areas.