Physician shortages in underserved populations: Venezuelan physician perspectives on emigration and professional development

Phenomenon: Physician shortages are common in underserved populations globally, and strategic medical school programs have been associated with increased physician retention. Despite Venezuela's physician emigration crisis and its international impact, there is incomplete understanding of variables influencing emigration decisions and potential solutions to increase retention.

Approach: Between January and June 2023, an anonymous, online questionnaire surveyed recent Venezuelan medical school graduates (2015-2021) living and practicing within and outside of Venezuela. Mixed-methods questions explored perspectives about medical training in Venezuela, desires for alternative medical school programming and professional development opportunities, and factors influencing emigration decisions. Quantitative responses were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed with a deductive content analysis approach to code for key themes.

Findings: Among 312 respondents representing all eight national universities and 17 specialties, 40% had emigrated. Most respondents agreed that care for underserved communities was a positive aspect of training (83%), but nearly all agreed that insufficient hospital resources negatively affected training (97%) and limited the practice of evidence-based medicine (91%). Desires for new curriculum centered on topics of Medical Informatics & Technology, Research, and Public Health. Of all drivers of migration, 20% were related to medical training (versus individual- and societal-level drivers), including desires for improved professional development opportunities, higher quality of training, and modified work culture.

Insights: This diverse sample of Venezuelan physicians expressed a core tension, common to physicians in low-resourced settings globally, between vocation to serve underserved populations and lack of economic and professional development opportunities. Medical education interventions to stimulate physician retention could include targeted curriculum to prepare students for systems-based practice, programs to address moral distress, and engagement with higher-resourced peer institutions to provide desired clinical and research collaborations.