Admissions to KU School of Medicine
ISSUE SUMMARY
An adequate supply of physicians is needed to help ensure access to affordable, quality health care. Studies show that the United States has been a net importer of medical school graduates for many years, and has not trained enough physicians to meet expected demand in coming years. The U.S. physician workforce is aging, average hours worked are falling compared to historical levels, and a large number of physicians are nearing retirement. At the same time, the growth and aging of the United States population, contribute to a growing demand for physician services. Kansas is expected to experience physician shortages, especially in the primary care specialties.
The KU School of Medicine is expected admit 191 first-year medical students in the Fall 2011, spread over three campuses: Kansas City, Wichita and Salina. KU admission policies have an expressed preference for qualified, in-state applicants, which normally results in about 80-85 percent of the entering class being a Kansas resident.
ADOPTED ACTION OR POLICY
The Kansas Medical Society reaffirms its support for an entering class admissions policy at the University of Kansas School of Medicine that expresses selection preference for all qualified candidates who are in-state residents. KMS also reaffirms its support for adequate funding of resources and facilities so that KUSM has the capacity to increase the number of physicians it trains.
Adopted by the KMS House of Delegates on April 30, 2011.
