Characteristics of medical students planning to work in medically underserved settings

We explored medical students’ desire to practice medicine in a medically underserved area (MUS). We surveyed M1-M4 students at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine (66% overall response rate). Primary outcome was intent to locate future practice in a MUS. Predictor variables included gender, race/ethnicity, and measures of religiosity, spirituality, sense of calling, burnout, and interest in primary care. In bivariate analysis, we found statistically significant associations between our primary outcome variable and gender, spirituality, growing up in MUS, sense of calling, primary care interest, and burnout. All associations except burnout persisted in multivariate analysis. As in studies of physicians, medical student intent to practice in MUS correlated with gender, growing up in MUS, and interest in primary care. Intent correlated with sense of calling and spirituality but not religiosity or burnout. Future research is warranted as spirituality and sense of calling may play a role in career decisions.