Where Do They Come From and Where Do They Go: Implications of Geographic Origins of Medical Students

Abstract

Can prior places of residence listed on a medical school application predict where a physician will practice in midcareer?

Geographic data were analyzed for a cohort of 399 graduates from a single U.S. medical school.

Applicants with origins in the local region had a 40.4% to 49.5% probability of practicing locally in midcareer—an increased likelihood of 6.1 to 7.3 (P < .001) by bivariate analysis.

In a logistic regression analysis, residence at birth (odds ratio [OR] = 2.6, P = .019) and at college graduation (OR = 2.8, P = .001) were significant predictors of midcareer practice location, but residence at high school graduation and on application to medical school were not.

Midcareer practice location is related to geographic origins. Using multiple indicators of geographic origins available at the time of application can allow admissions committees to make higher-quality decisions.