Military Times EDGE

The number of accredited medical schools training doctors in the U.S. is set to grow by four to 130 in 2009 alone. Five others have applied for accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, with the aim of accepting students in 2010 or 2011.

The Association of American Medical Colleges said in 2008 that if current patterns continue, the U.S. will have about 750,000 doctors by 2025 — about 159,000 fewer than it needs. The shortage will be particularly acute for primary care doctors, the group said.

The medical school group called for stepped-up recruiting of minority group students more likely to practice in underserved areas. It also called for adding 1,500 spots each year to the National Health Service Corps, which finances training for medical students who work in underserved areas after graduation.