Student loan debt averaging between $160,000 to more than $250,000 is cited in this story as one of the main factors in keeping young doctors from going into primary care family practice and sending them into higher-paid specialist fields. Another factor cited is the lack of posts where medical school graduates can do their required training as residents. Another reason that medical students don't go into primary care practice is most spend their internships and residencies in hospitals and with specialists, not so much with primary care doctors, said Dr. Mary Jean Schenk, vice dean of Medical Education at Wayne State University School of Medicine. And medical residents tend to continue to practice in the area in which they spend their residencies, said Schenk. Schenk added that Wayne State and two Oakland County hospitals have been operating special teaching programs to bring and keep more primary care doctors in Michigan. "We are committed to train medical students and get them working with our clinical partners so they stay here for residency."

http://www.macombdaily.com/general-news/20140522/student-loan-debt-root-of-growing-shortage-in-primary-care-practice
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20140522/student-loan-debt-root-of-growing-shortage-in-primary-care-practice-legislature-takes-action-to-help