America's Aging Physicians: Forecasting States In Need of DoctorsClint Rosser, CEO

As Baby Boomers—born between 1946 and 1964—continue to transition into retirement, the healthcare system faces a critical challenge. Many senior physicians are retiring, further exacerbating the nation’s physician shortage. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects that the U.S. could face a shortfall of 37,800 to 124,000 physicians by 2034, with shortages in both primary care and specialties. This demographic shift requires recruiters to anticipate where demand will be greatest and find strategic solutions to fill these gaps.

States with the Most Senior Actively Practicing Physicians*:

New Mexico

This attractive retirement state is known for its warm, dry weather and sunshine. This might explain why New Mexico has the highest percentage of actively practicing senior Physicians in the country and could soon be a state in need of doctors. 37% of the New Mexican Physician workforce is over 60 years old. That encompasses over 1,800 members of their actively practicing Physician workforce.

Hawaii

Often seen as paradise, Hawaii is already a desirable location for physicians. However, 35% of Hawaii’s 4,000 practicing doctors are nearing retirement. With such a large proportion of senior physicians, the state will need new talent soon to meet the demands of both residents and tourists who rely on healthcare services.

New Jersey

Although New Jersey may not have the paradisaical climate Hawaii does, it does share a similar Physician attrition issue. New Jersey's senior Physician population accounts for 35% of its Physician workforce, totaling over 9,000 in number. This state will be in need of new doctors soon.

Montana

Big Sky country attracts many Physician seeking higher levels of practice autonomy and outdoor beauty. While the state is vast, it is one of the best states for doctors looking for new employment opportunities. The actively practicing Physician pool is small, numbering a little over 800. Of this small group, 35 % are over age 60. In the coming years this will create a notable shortage in a difficult to recruit for rural environment.

Maine & Vermont

Maine and Vermont both report that 34% of their physician populations are over the age of 60. Although Maine has more senior physicians than Vermont, both states face similar challenges as they prepare for a wave of retirements. These northern states are ideal destinations for physicians looking to relocate, as new opportunities will open up in the coming years.

California

There are over 105,000 practicing Physicians that call the Golden State home. Approximately 1/3 of these Physicians are over 60 and nearing retirement. As these 35,000+ Physicians are lost to retirement, California will soon be a state in need of doctors with a marked Physician shortage.

New York

Rounding out the list of top states with senior Physicians is New York. The Empire State will soon be a state in need of doctors with a notable senior status of 1/3 of its actively practicing Physicians over age 60. Over 24,000 senior NY Physicians will soon be joining the masses of Baby Boomers entering retirement, thus adding to the nations' Physician shortages.

The retirement of senior physicians poses a significant challenge to the U.S. healthcare system. States with a high proportion of senior doctors—like New Mexico, California, and New York—must act swiftly to recruit new physicians and prevent care disruptions. By leveraging telemedicine, expanding residency programs, and offering competitive incentives, healthcare systems can stay ahead of the physician shortage and ensure access to care for all patients.

Clint Rosser is the CEO of PracticeMatch. He has been with PracticeMatch since 2016. He has overseen several departments within PracticeMatch including Inside Sales, Career Fairs, and the Client Services team. Clint, along with his team, has helped elevate PracticeMatch client services to move past a transactional vendor relationship to a full partnership with clients. This has allowed PracticeMatch to build stronger relationships and work with clients closer to ensure they can achieve the most ROI possible.

Prior to Joining PracticeMatch, Clint has been in Client service leadership roles for over 20 years. Clint serves as an AAPPR Board Member for Strategic Corporate Sponsors.