{"id":150261,"date":"2025-12-11T09:44:30","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T14:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=150261"},"modified":"2026-01-07T16:51:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T21:51:02","slug":"ucf-addressing-need-for-primary-care-physicians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-addressing-need-for-primary-care-physicians\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Addressing Need for Primary Care Physicians"},"content":{"rendered":"

Florida desperately needs more primary care doctors and UCF\u2019s College of Medicine<\/a>, armed with a $2.6 million federal grant, is doing its part to create those physicians.<\/p>\n

The college\u2019s new Primary Care Scholarship Program is providing about 100 medical students with financial aid and unique clinical experiences caring for a variety of patient groups \u2014 from Special Olympians to seniors \u2014 to expose them to the broad career opportunities in internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics. The goal, say college leaders, is to encourage students to stay in state to become community physicians.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a primary care physician is about being a part of someone\u2019s life,\u201d says Jeff LaRochelle, associate dean for academic affairs and an internal medicine specialist by training. \u201cWe have students at UCF who grew up in communities that need outstanding, engaged physicians; places like Ocala, Pensacola, Kissimmee, Tallahassee, Gainesville. We are hoping that we can encourage them to stay here and provide needed care to the communities that raised them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two-year grant was one of four given this year by the Health Resources and Services Administration to help address the nation\u2019s primary care physician shortage. Medical school leaders hope UCF\u2019s program can be used as a national model and be successful enough to become sustainable after the grant ends.<\/p>\n

Florida\u2019s Need for Physicians Is Great<\/h2>\n

Only 73% of Florida residents report having a personal physician. And the nationwide physician shortage hits Florida harder for several reasons.<\/p>\n

First is the state\u2019s fast-growing population, which is projected to grow by 6 million people in just the next five years. The Florida Department of Health reports a current 12% gap between the supply and demand for physicians, which is expected to more than double to 28% by 2035.<\/p>\n

Florida ranks 45th<\/sup> nationally in health access and affordability. Florida\u2019s high percentage of residents over age 65 \u2014 22% and expected to reach 26% by 2035 \u2014 require more healthcare services, further exacerbating access to care.<\/p>\n

Florida also has more uninsured residents (11.2%) than the national average (8%), according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The physician shortage is also more pronounced in rural, remote and under-resourced urban communities.<\/p>\n

UCF\u2019s College of Medicine has graduated more than 500 new physicians in the last five years and 36% of those new graduates went into primary care specialties. However, almost 70% of those new doctors left Florida for their residency training.<\/p>\n

Through a partnership with HCA Healthcare, UCF has Florida\u2019s fastest growing residency and fellowship programs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

UCF\u2019s new program is designed to inspire graduates to stay in-state while encouraging more students to become primary care physicians. Through a partnership with HCA Healthcare, UCF has Florida\u2019s fastest growing residency and fellowship programs. LaRochelle hopes the new primary care program will better link UCF\u2019s undergraduate and residency training.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur hope is to reach out to medical students and offer them a path to do their residency in their hometown and provide needed care to their community,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

In addition, doctors who provide care for communities in need are also eligible for forgiveness for their medical school loans.<\/p>\n