Wanted: Family Physicians

Notices of openings for family physicians are on the upswing in American Family Physician and AAFP Placement Services.

The number of AFP classified ads for FPs in 2004 outpaced the number of 2003 ads by 12 percent, and the number of 2005 ads exceeded 2004 ads by 20 percent. Similarly, job listings on the online-only AAFP Placement Services increased by 6 percent from 2003 to 2004 and by 33 percent from 2004 to 2005. Both AFP and AAFP Placement Services increased their listing rates during that time period, which apparently was not a deterrent to the increase in requests for FPs.

"There is a large push to fill rural positions," said Ann Locke, account representative with Russell Johns Associates Inc. of Clearwater, Fla., the company that handles AFP's classified ads section.

"The AFP classified ads and Placement Services listings show us what we can't get from national 'headhunter' firm statistics (usually used by large groups and hospitals) -- namely, that the demand for family physicians is clearly increasing among community practices," said Perry Pugno, M.D., director of the AAFP Division of Medical Education. "This is the kind of information medical students want to hear, and I believe it will have a favorable impact on student interest in family medicine."