In this episode we speak with Dr. Bryan Carmody, pediatric nephrologist and associate professor of pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School. We talk about whether America really faces a doctor shortage, why people in areas with plenty of doctors still struggle to access care, whether proposed solutions can address the access problems many patients face, and how AI may affect these problems in the near future.
(00:00) Our introduction
(04:03) Rethinking the doctor shortage narrative
(09:00) The AMA and the AAMC
(16:11) Shortage of 187,000 physicians by 2037
(25:20) Physician misallocation
(38:19) Financial incentives create barriers to care
(48:19) Why not train more physicians?
(56:18) How to make places more desirable for physicians to work in
(1:14:01) Profit over placement in hospitals
(1:25:12) The AI elephant in the room
Used or referenced:
- Bryan Carmody’s Sheriff of Sodium YouTube Channel and Blog
- Leah Pierson, “The AMA can help fix the health care shortages it helped create”
- Medford-Davis et al., “The physician shortage isn’t going anywhere”
- Walensky and McCann, “Challenges to the future of a robust physician workforce in the United States”
- HRSA Health Workforce, Physician Workforce: Projections, 2022-2037
- HRSA Health Workforce, State of the Primary Care Workforce, 2024
- Gudbranson, Glickman, and Emanuel, “Reassessing the data on whether a physician shortage exists”
- Connors, “2025 Doctor Job Outlook: Why Go Locum Tenens?”
- Auerbach, Buerhaus, and Staiger, “Implications of the rapid growth of the nurse practitioner workforce in the US”
- National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, “PA Profession Surges in Last Decade”
Bio(un)ethical is a bioethics podcast written by Leah Pierson and Sophie Gibert, with editing and production by Ambedo Media (previous production support by Audiolift.co). Our music is written by Nina Khoury and performed by Social Skills. We are supported by a grant from Amplify Creative Grants.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.