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Article CommentaryCommentary

Rethinking the Standards for State Licensure of Physicians

Philip A. Gruppuso and Eli Y. Adashi
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine March 2025, 38 (2) 348-351; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2024.240257R2
Philip A. Gruppuso
From the Department of Medical Science, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI (PAG, EYA).
MD
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Eli Y. Adashi
From the Department of Medical Science, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI (PAG, EYA).
MD, MS
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References

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    Physician workforce: projections, 2021-2036. Washington, DC: HRSA Health Workforce, October 2023. Available at: https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/physicians-projections-factsheet-10-23.pdf.
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    KFF. Total number of medical school graduates. Available at: https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/total-medical-school-graduates/.
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    KFF Health News. Over 100,000 physicians left their jobs In 2021: Report. 2022 (Available at: https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/over-100000-physicians-left-their-jobs-in-2021-report/).
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    1. Henry TA
    . Medicine’s great resignation? 1 in 5 doctors plan exit in 2 years. AMA Physician Health. 2022. Available at: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/medicine-s-great-resignation-1-5-doctors-plan-exit-2-years.
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    . Challenges for international medical graduates in the US graduate medical education and health care system environment: a narrative review. Cureus 2022;14:e27351.
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    . International medical graduates and the physician workforce. JAMA 2024;332:490–6.
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    . FSMB Census of licensed physicians in the United States, 2022. J Med Regulation 2023;109:13–20.
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    National Resident Matching Program, Results and Data: 2024 Main Residency Match. National Resident Matching Program, Washington, DC. 2024.
  9. 9.↵
    State specific requirements for initial medical licensure. Washington DC: Federation of State Medical Boards. Available at: https://www.fsmb.org/step-3/state-licensure/.
  10. 10.↵
    SB1451 Nashville TN: Tennessee General Assembly. Available at: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB1451&ga=113.
  11. 11.↵
    Physician Workforce Act, SB155, Montgomery AL: Legislature of Alabama, May 2023. Available at: https://www.albme.gov/uploads/pdfs/Physician_Workforce_Act_of_2023.pdf.
  12. 12.↵
    Total number of active physicians in the U.S., as of May 2024, by state. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/186269/total-active-physicians-in-the-us/.
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    United States Census Bureau. State population totals and components of change: 2020-2023. Available at: https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-state-total.html.
  14. 14.↵
    1. Fiore K
    . More states cut training requirements for some international medical graduates—alternative pathways to licensing for IMGs spreads beyond Tennessee. Medpage Today, 2024. Available at: https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/109168.
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    AMA, Preparing for Residency. Why medical students aren't matching–and what happens next? 2015. Available at: https://www.ama-assn.org/medical-students/preparing-residency/why-medical-students-arent-matching-and-what-happens-next.
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    1. Clark C
    . Tennessee Medical Board refuses to enforce new IMG law—Members skeptical of verification process, concerned about patient safety Medpage Today 2024. Available at: https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/111837.
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The Journal of the American Board of Family     Medicine: 38 (2)
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Vol. 38, Issue 2
March-April 2025
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Rethinking the Standards for State Licensure of Physicians
Philip A. Gruppuso, Eli Y. Adashi
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Mar 2025, 38 (2) 348-351; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2024.240257R2

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Rethinking the Standards for State Licensure of Physicians
Philip A. Gruppuso, Eli Y. Adashi
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Mar 2025, 38 (2) 348-351; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2024.240257R2
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Keywords

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Health Policy
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  • International Medical Graduates
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