Where Have All the General Internists Gone?

A shortage of primary care physicians is expected, due in part to decreasing numbers of physicians entering general internal medicine (GIM). Practicing general internists may contribute to the shortage by leaving internal medicine (IM) for other careers in and out of medicine. To better understand mid-career attrition in IM. Mail survey to a national sample of internists originally certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in GIM or an IM subspecialty during the years 1990 to 1995. Self-reported current status as working in IM, working in another medical or non-medical field, not currently working but plan to return, or retired; and career satisfaction. Nine percent of all internists in the 1990–1995 certification cohorts and a significantly larger proportion of general internists (17%) than IM subspecialists [(4%) P