VIDEO: ACG presidential roundtable explores ‘creative ways’ to tackle GI shortage
In a Healio video exclusive, Edward V. Loftus Jr., MD, discusses the looming threat of gastroenterology workforce shortage, alongside insights from a roundtable of ACG presidents on how we might still avoid it.
“I think we all feel it on some level,” Loftus said. “By some estimates, there is projected to be a shortage of over 1,000 gastroenterologists over the next few years. I saw one factoid that over half of gastroenterologists are over the age of 55, so we have to start thinking about creative ways to address this shortage.”
GI fellowships have struggled for years to adequately fill their vacancies with the medical trainees needed to replenish the depleted workforce. Although recent recruitment efforts have slightly boosted physician workforce numbers, it still pales in comparison to the soaring demand for GI services — driven in part by what Loftus describes as “the demographic wave of peak Medicare” and the recent shift in colorectal cancer screening age from 50 years to 45 years.
Despite considerable efforts to bolster the GI workforce, a nationwide shortage remains on track for 2037. In this month’s Healio Gastroenterology Exclusive, three former and current ACG presidents — Amy S. Oxentenko, MD, FACP, AGAF, FACG, Daniel J. Pambianco, MD, FACG, FASGE, FAPCR, and Samir A. Shah, MD, FACG — offered their perspectives on what measures can still be taken to avoid this grim prediction.
In his accompanying editorial, Loftus highlighted that course-correcting the GI shortage will require a “multipronged effort to recruit the best to gastroenterology,” not only GIs but also advanced practice providers, certified registered nurse anesthetists and endoscopy technicians.
“I think you’ll find it an interesting read — no easy solutions here,” Loftus, the Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Professor of Gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic and chief medical editor of Healio Gastroenterology, said. “I think though that administrators and division leaders are going to need to be flexible and willing to work with people to make sure we have enough gastroenterologists to take care of our country.”
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