The physician shortage by specialty in 2038 

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Across all physician specialties in the U.S., there is a projected shortage of 141,160 full-time equivalent physicians in 2038, according to a December report from the Health Resources and Services Administration. 

Here’s a breakdown of specialties based on projected supply and demand adequacy for physician full-time equivalents in 2038:

  • Vascular surgery: 66%
  • Ophthalmology: 72%
  • Thoracic surgery: 73%
  • Plastic surgery: 74%
  • Family medicine: 76%
  • Hospital medicine: 78%
  • Allergy and immunology: 83%
  • Anesthesiology: 83%
  • General internal medicine: 83%
  • Geriatrics: 84%
  • Pathology: 84%
  • Urology: 84%
  • Cardiology: 85%
  • Nephrology: 85%
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation: 85%
  • Obstetrics and gynecology: 86%
  • Pediatrics: 86%
  • Otolaryngology: 87%
  • Radiation oncology: 87%
  • Orthopedic surgery: 88%
  • Neurological surgery: 89%
  • Radiology: 90%
  • General surgery: 91%
  • Infectious diseases: 91%
  • Rheumatology: 91%
  • Other specialist: 93%
  • Dermatology: 95%
  • Hematology and oncology: 96%
  • Colorectal surgery: 98%
  • Gastroenterology: 98%
  • Neurology: 104%
  • Neonatology: 106%
  • Endocrinology: 109%
  • Critical care and pulmonology medicine: 112%
  • Emergency medicine: 116%
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