Rural GI Workforce Stable in the US, but Concerns Exist
The proportion of gastroenterologists practicing in rural areas of the US has remained stable at around 7% from 2014 to 2025. Despite an overall increase in the number of gastroenterologists, disparities in access to care persist, particularly in rural regions. Factors such as gender, subspecialty, and practice size influence the likelihood of practicing in rural areas.
- ▪The total number of gastroenterologists increased from 12,636 in 2014 to 14,939 in 2025.
- ▪The percentage of gastroenterologists practicing in rural areas did not change significantly during this period.
- ▪Late-career gastroenterologists and those practicing in the Midwest were more likely to work in rural settings.
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TOPLINE:The proportion of gastroenterologists practicing in rural areas in the US remained stable at approximately 7% from 2014 to 2025 despite a growth in the overall workforce. Late-career clinicians and those in the Midwest were more likely to practice rurally, whereas women, hepatology specialists, and physicians with academic affiliations were less likely to practice rurally.METHODOLOGY:A substantial portion of the US population lives in rural areas and faces worse gastrointestinal diagnosis, care patterns, access, and mortality, with recent analyses showing uneven geographic access to gastroenterologists and widening urban-rural gaps.To determine trends in the proportion of gastroenterologists practicing in rural areas and to identify factors associated with rural practice,…
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