11/30/11

Earlier this week, The UW School of Medicine and Public Health received a prestigious President's Volunteer Service Award from President Obama for its MEDic program which has UW medical students providing free health care to folks at seven Madison clinics. A day later the Wisconsin Hospital Association released a report predicting a severe shortage of primary care physicians in Wisconsin within 20 years. What a stark contrast, yet clear connection.

Clearly we have to address the need for more primary care Docs for a growing elderly population and emphasis on primary care. Special incentives are needed to attract interested students and keep them in Wisconsin. And then we need to recognize how important public service and outreach are and what a good job the UW Medical School is doing in providing that service.

Good people, good training and good jobs seem like a combination worthy of our attention and investment.