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- Currently, there are roughly 7,600 certified geriatricians -- doctors who specialize in caring for the elderly. However, an additional 14,000 are needed to adequately care for the elderly population. 2
- By 2030, the nation will need 36,000 trained geriatricians. 1,2
- Geriatricians make up less than 1% of the 700,000 physicians in country1
- In 2004-2005 there were:1
- 131 geriatric medicine fellowship programs (an increase of 11 since '01)
- 444 available first-yr positions (an increase of 19% since '01)
- 334 geriatric fellows in all yrs of training (33% of first yr positions not filled)
- 36 fellows in their 2nd year and beyond (54% decrease from '01) (Fellows in 2nd year program generally focus on additional training in research or teaching skills)
- Since 2001-02, 310 fellows per year have completed a Geriatric Medicine program. If this number of annual graduates remains stable, by 2030 there would be 7,750 newly certified geriatricians -- not even one-third of the projected number estimated to be required.1
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posted nov. 21, 2006
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