Doctor Shortfall By 2015, Says IU Medical School

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(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana faces a shortfall of nearly 2,000 doctors by the year 2015 according to the IU School of Medicine.

Doctor Craig Brater, the dean of the IU Medical School, says there are several reasons for the shortage. He says a whole generation of physicians are reaching retirement age. But an even bigger problem occurred during the era of managed medical care when predictions of a need for fewer doctors proved wrong.

To turn around the shortage, IU wants to increase the student enrollment 30 percent by 2012. That's 14 additional students a year over six years.

Doctor Brater says most IU medical school graduates stay in the state. But putting more students in the pipeline means additional cost. So he took the opportunity to pitch his plan to state legislators during "IU School of Medicine Day" at the statehouse on Thursday.

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