Too few doctors are carving out careers in primary care when pursuing specialties proves more lucrative for a less staggering workload, according to Dr. Mark Smalley, Lakeland medical education director.
Physicians finish medical school with the same $150,000 to $300,000 debt whichever direction they go, Dr. Smalley said.
As medical education director, Dr. Smalley oversees training of residents and medical students.
“At Lakeland, we started a residency in internal and emergency medicine in July of 2011,” Dr. Smalley said. “In 2012, we’re adding family residency in Niles” for three years under the tutelage of the program director.
Dr. Smalley said the offerings were approved for six internal medicine participants and four family care providers.
While recruiting physicians, the presence of “hot out of the blocks” candidates also energizes and enhances the education of current staff.
“They raise the bar with their new knowledge,” he said. “It elevates the whole atmosphere.”