Recruiting Infectious Disease Physicians: A Deepening Crisis and a Path Forward

Abstract

Abstract: The infectious disease (ID) physician workforce faces a recruitment crisis of growing severity. A persistent compensation gap, escalating medical student debt, limited pre-fellowship exposure, and the psychological toll of pandemic-era burnout have together suppressed applicant interest in a field where demand continues to outpace supply. Closing this gap requires deliberate recruitment strategies that leverage the distinct advantages of the private practice model.