Leaders.com
  • Business
  • Leadership
  • Wealth
  • Master Classes
  • Business
    • Entrepreneurs
    • Executives
    • Marketing and Sales
    • Social Media
    • Innovation
    • Women in Business
  • Leadership
    • Personal Growth
    • Company Culture
    • Public Speaking
    • Productivity
    • Hiring
    • Social Issues
    • Leaders
  • Wealth
    • Investing
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Retirement
    • Venture Capital
    • Loans and Borrowing
    • Taxes
    • Markets
    • Real Estate
  • Master Classes
Productivity retired doctors

Some doctors are returning to work part-time to fill in the gap of the ongoing physician shortage. (Photo by PASCAL LACHENAUD/AFP via Getty Images)

By Hannah Bryan Leaders Staff

Hannah Bryan

News Writer

Hannah Bryan is a news writer for Leaders Media. Most recently she was a reporter for the Sanilac County News...

Full bio


Learn about our editorial policy

Apr 13, 2023

Retired Doctors Respond To Physician Shortage

In one answer to a growing shortage of practicing MDs, retired San Francisco area doctors are returning to see patients. 

Key Details

  • The returning physicians are part of a program run by the non-profit CoGenerate, which seeks to bring together the older and younger generations to solve community problems. 
  • The retired doctors return to the office for part-time work through the Encore Physicians program, CBS News reports. 
  • Since the pandemic, the healthcare sector has faced a growing worker shortage as burnt-out employees leave the practice entirely. 
  • In at least 13 states, health departments have warned that chronic staffing shortages could affect their healthcare system’s ability to respond to future health disasters, ABC News reports. 

Why it’s news

The American Medical Association expects the physician shortage will only worsen in the coming years. By 2024, it expects the U.S. to be short more than 120,000 physicians, CBS News reports. 

The current program in San Francisco is one temporary answer to the shortage. In addition to providing extra doctors, these retired physicians can have the added benefit of lightening the full-time doctors’ workloads—reducing the chance of burnout. 

After the pandemic, many health officials feel less prepared for another health crisis than before the pandemic. 

“Without the personnel to do the hard work of analyzing data, interviewing cases, tracing contacts, testing specimens, and performing other essential public health activities, our nation is less prepared in some ways than it was before 2020,” the director of the Cornell Center for Pandemic Prevention and Response Dr. Jay Varma tells ABC News.

However, oddly enough, about 10% of med-school graduates cannot get jobs. In 2021, for instance, there were a record-setting 42,508 active applicants for residency programs—which is the pathway between med school and being a physician—but only 35,194 first-year positions, according to the National Resident Matching Program. 

At the root of the mismatch between physician supply and demand are some outdated rules about how residency programs are funded. While Congress is working on changing how this funding happens, a solution is not coming anytime soon.

Similarly, the American Hospital Association has requested that federal lawmakers renew the Pandemic And All Hazards Preparedness Act. This George W. Bush-era law bolstered the Strategic National Stockpile and provided the U.S. with a reserve of pandemic supplies. 

However, the healthcare worker shortage already needed a solution before the pandemic. While a national stockpile of supplies could alleviate some of the difficulties that could arise during another pandemic, the lack of workers will likely remain a problem. 

In Georgia, for example, officials have created a statewide healthcare workforce commission aimed at increasing the healthcare workforce. The state struggled to bring in enough nursing staff before the pandemic. 

Home / News / Retired Doctors Respond To Physician Shortage
Share
FacebookTweetEmailLinkedIn

Related Stories

Seattle Takes The Crown For Advanced Tech Talent

by PJ Howland Leaders Staff
Tech

Oct 24, 2023

Seattle tech talent

Seattle has emerged as the metro area with the most advanced tech talent, beating out tech hubs like San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

Key Details

  • According to a new ranking by the Burning Glass Institute, Seattle has the highest proportion of advanced tech workers compared to other cities with similarly sized tech workforces.
  • The ranking evaluated 60 million high-paying, in-demand tech job postings and histories to identify cities with cutting-edge roles like AI and cybersecurity rather than legacy tech positions.
  • With tech giants Amazon and Microsoft headquartered in Seattle, the city edged out the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, Austin, and Raleigh on the list.
  • The report found that demand for software developers and IT support specialists has declined over the past five years as companies seek more specialized tech talent.

Go deeper

FacebookTweetEmailLinkedIn

More Americans Can’t Keep Up With Car Payments

by Colin Baker Leaders Staff
Loans and Borrowing

Oct 23, 2023

car loans, used cars

A record number of Americans are behind on their car loan payments as higher interest rates and prices weigh on consumers.

Key Details

  • According to data from Fitch Ratings, 6.11% of car loans were at least 60 days delinquent in September, the highest since tracking began in the early 2000s.
  • Some interest rates on used cars can rise to as much as 21%, according to Bankrate.
  • Soaring prices and rising interest rates are squeezing consumers, making it difficult for some to keep up with their auto loans.

Go deeper

FacebookTweetEmailLinkedIn

Chevron Makes $53 Billion Deal Amid Surging Gas Prices

by PJ Howland Leaders Staff
Markets

Oct 23, 2023

Chevron Gas Deal

Chevron is acquiring Hess Corp. for $53 billion, the second significant oil producer acquisition this month as crude prices climb.

Key Details

  • Chevron is purchasing Hess in an all-cash deal worth $53 billion, including debt and preferred stock redemption.
  • This comes just weeks after ExxonMobil announced its $59.5 billion purchase of Pioneer Natural Resources.
  • With oil over $80 per barrel, major producers are using their windfall profits to acquire smaller players and boost payouts to shareholders.
  • Chevron expects the deal to close in H1 2023 pending regulatory approvals and Hess shareholder vote.
  • Hess CEO John Hess will join Chevron's board once the acquisition is complete.

Go deeper

FacebookTweetEmailLinkedIn
nike logo
Company Culture

Oct 20, 2023

Nike to Require More In-Office Days From Employees

by Colin Baker Leaders Staff
blue collar workers
Retirement

Oct 20, 2023

Explaining The ‘C+ Grade’ Retirement Ecosystem in The United States

by PJ Howland Leaders Staff
netflix building
Entertainment

Oct 19, 2023

Netflix Hiking Prices While Adding Millions of Subscribers

by Colin Baker Leaders Staff

Recent Articles

Hiring

Nov 1, 2023

Learn the Winning Answers to the Most Common Phone Interview Questions

Come to your next phone interview fully prepared

Personal Growth

Oct 30, 2023

85 Quotes on Self-Love to Boost Your Self-Esteem

Don’t fall into the trap of harsh self-criticism

Company Culture

Oct 27, 2023

What is a Sabbatical? Your Ticket to Restful Growth and Meaning

Sabbaticals can benefits both employees and businesses

  • Business
  • Leadership
  • Wealth
Join the Leaders Community

Get exclusive tools and resources you need to grow as a leader and scale a purpose-driven business.

Subscribing indicates your consent to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Leaders.com
  • Privacy Policy
  • About
  • Careers
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Member Login

© 2025 Leaders.com - All rights reserved.

Search Leaders.com