The American Academy of Family Physicians has named West Virginia University School of Medicine one of the nations Top 10 medical schools for producing graduates drawn to careers in family medicine.

The schools success in fostering student interest in family medicine results in an average of 15.5 percent of medical school graduates entering an accredited family medicine residency program each year. The national average is 7.7 percent.

Students are drawn to family medicine, despite lower salaries than those of specialists, because there are lots of rewards besides monetary,said Dr. James Arbogast, chair of the WVU Department of Family Medicine.Continuity with all aspects of patients and their familiesthats what sets family medicine apart. I take care of the children of women Ive delivered. I know whats going on in their families. Thats very rewarding.”

Family medicine physicians take care of patients of all ages. They may do minor surgeries, deliver babies and practice geriatrics and sports medicine. Their work has an impact on the health system as well. Studies show when family medicine doctors deliver care, costs are kept more affordable nationwide, Arbogast said.

Programs that help pique studentsinterest in family medicine at WVU include a Family Medicine Interest Group that offers an outreach program in Morgantown (MUSHROOM) in which students offer basic health care for homeless people. Summer externships enable students to return to their hometowns or other cities for six weeks to work with family medicine doctors there. Also, a competitive rural scholars program provides a stipend during residency and includes a community research project.

This award shows our commitment to being a health care safety net for people in small towns all over West Virginia,Dr. James Brick, interim dean of the School of Medicine, said.We are so proud of the Department of Family Medicine for inspiring students to bring health care directly to people where they live. This is what the late Gov. Okey Patteson envisioned in the creation of West Virginias first medical schooloperating as a force of great good for all of West Virginia.

This is the first year that WVU has been named to the list.

American Academy of Family Physicians surveys have shown little growth in the number of medical students choosing family medicine careers. The organization says this raises questions about health care affordability and accessibility across the country.

For more information on the WVU Department of Family Medicine, visitwww..hsc.wvu.edu/som/fammed/.