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Key Highlights

Idaho ranks last in physicians per capita, needing 1,300 more to reach the U.S. average

Students are trained in primary care and rural healthcare settings

Residency expansion is key to retaining Idaho-trained doctors

When it comes to ranking the shortage of physicians nationwide, Idaho’s position could easily be classified as in dire need of intensive care.

“It’s terrible. We’re dead last in the nation in active physicians per capita,” said Dr. Tracy Farnsworth, founding president and CEO of the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) in Meridian.

“We’re ranked 47th in what we call resident physicians. Shockingly, we would have to bring in roughly 1,300 physicians just to bring Idaho to the national average of physicians per capita. Tha

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