Report outlines most recruited specialties, projects shortages

A new report suggests that while family physicians have been the most heavily recruited for more than a decade, specialist recruitment saw a boost in 2021 as office visits decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Physician Thrive's Physician Compensation Report 2022, many of the most recruited specialties tend to generate high amounts of revenues for hospitals. These specialties include:

• Hematology/oncology
• Psychiatry
• Cardiology
• Obstetrics/gynecology
• Gastroenterology

The report notes that the pandemic has put a focus on mental health and stress, which boosted recruitment of psychiatrists.

The report also projects a physician shortage of more than 121,000 by 2030. The specialties with the highest projected deficits include:

• Cardiology (7,080)
• Ophthalmology (6,180)
• Orthopedic Surgery (5,050)
• Urology (3,630)
• General surgery (2,970)
   

Source: Physician Thrive