The contribution of Memorial University's medical school to rural physician supply

Abstract

Introduction: This study identifies the characteristics and predictors of Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) medical graduates working in rural Canada and rural Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).

Methods: We linked data from class lists, the alumni and postgraduate databases with the Southam Medical database to determine 2004 practice locations for MUN graduates from 1973 to 1998 (26 yr, inclusive). Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors for each outcome.

Results: In 2004, 167 (12.6%) MUN graduates worked in rural Canada and 81 (6.1%) MUN graduates worked in rural NL. Those who were more likely to practise in rural Canada (when compared with graduates from urban backgrounds, those who had not done any residency training at MUN or specialists, respectively) were graduates from a rural background (odds ratio [OR] 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38-2.76), those who had done residency training at MUN (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.06-2.29) and family physicians (FPs)-general practitioners (GPs) (OR 6.64, 95% CI 4.31-10.23). Those who were more likely to practise in rural NL (when compared with graduates from urban backgrounds, those who had not done any residency training at MUN, specialists or non-Newfoundlanders, respectively) were graduates from a rural background (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.57-4.11), those who had done residency training at MUN (OR 4.12, 95% CI 1.94-8.76), FP-GPs (OR 6.39, 95% CI 3.39-12.05) and Newfoundlanders (OR 7.01, 95% CI 2.16-22.71).

Conclusion: The MUN medical school has made a substantial contribution to rural physician supply in both NL and Canada. Increasing the number of local rural students as well as providing incentives to graduates to complete postgraduate training in family medicine in the province may increase the number of locally trained rural physicians.