MSSNY Supports Governor Spitzer’s Peace Corps For Physicians Initiative

LAKE SUCCESS, NY (01/09/2008)(readMedia)-- “We applaud Governor Spitzer’s resolve to address the growing physician shortage and maldistribution problem, which is now occurring in both primary care and among specialists in many areas of New York State,” said Robert B. Goldberg, DO, President of the Medical Society of the State of New York. According to data collected by the Center for Healthcare Workforce Studies, School of Public Health, University at Albany, and released in December 2006, there is a continuing downward spiral in the number of practicing physicians in certain specialties, including OB-GYN, General Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Neurosurgery and Thoracic Surgery and Psychiatry. A growing decline in the number of primary care physicians has also developed. The hardest hit areas are Western New York, the Finger Lakes, the North Country, and the Mohawk Valley regions, but even within downstate communities such as New York City, growing shortages are occurring within certain specialties.

In its Legislative Program for 2008, the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) has called for legislative efforts to redress physician recruitment and retention problems by improving the practice environment for physicians in New York State. In his 2008 State of the State Address, Governor Spitzer recognizes the severe problems faced by several regions throughout New York and has vowed to devise and implement solutions to these shortages this year. “We commend Governor Spitzer for the foresight he has exhibited in committing the necessary state resources to begin to redress the access problems that would have surely been faced by New Yorkers without this action”.

In addition to supporting the Governor’s “Peace Corps” for Doctors initiative, the Medical Society supports implementation of programmatic changes to existing programs designed to recruit underrepresented minorities to the practice of medicine. MSSNY also supports legislation to provide a state income tax credit for medical student loan repayment as an investment in retention of medical residents. All of these steps are essential in meeting the growing demand for physician services, and we congratulate Governor Spitzer on his announcement today of the “Peace Corps” for Doctors program.

Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York represents over 25,000 physicians, residents and medical students.

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