‘Fauci Effect’ Drives Record Number Of Medical School Applications
Npr reports that even as college and university enrollment overall has dropped this fall, there has been a record number of applicants to medical school. The number is up 18% this year over last year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, driven by the example of medical workers and public health figures such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
“It’s unprecedented,” said Geoffrey Young, the AAMC’s senior director, who compares it to another response to a traumatic moment in American history: the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. “After [Sept. 11], there was a huge increase in the number of men and women that were entering into the military,” Young said. “So far in my lifetime, at least, and for as long as I’ve been in medical education, that’s the only comparison that I could make.”
Stanford University School of Medicine reports a 50% jump in the number of applications, or 11,000 applications for 90 seats. Boston University School of Medicine says applications are up 27%, to 12,024 for about 110 seats.
“That, I think, may have a lot to do with the fact that people look at Anthony Fauci, look at the doctors in their community and say, ‘You know, that is amazing. This is a way for me to make a difference,'” said Kristen Goodell, associate dean of admissions at the school of medicine at BU. Medical school admissions officers have started calling this the Fauci Effect.
It’s “very flattering,” Fauci said. “Probably a more realistic assessment is that, rather than the Fauci Effect, it’s the effect of a physician who is trying to and hopefully succeeding in having an important impact on an individual’s health, as well as on global health. So if it works to get more young individuals into medical school, go ahead and use my name. Be my guest.”
Among other reasons admissions officials cite for the increase in prospective medical students is that the pandemic has given people more free time to complete the arduous application process. “A lot of the plans they made postgrad honestly fell through,” said Sahil Mehta, a practicing radiologist and founder of MedSchoolCoach, which prepares students for the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT.
The deluge of applications comes as the nation faces a projected shortage of physicians. The United States will be short 54,000-139,000 physicians by 2023. More than two out of every five doctors now practicing will reach retirement age over the next 10 years.
This year’s many medical school applicants appear undeterred by debt or other challenges traditionally associated with medical school. “Everyone feels some sort of responsibility,” Kelley said. “There’s definitely a call to arms thinking that, if there’s another pandemic, it’ll be up to us.”
Fauci said he sees the flood of medical school applicants as a sign that people are thinking about social justice — “that you have responsibility not only to yourself, but as an integral part of society.” He said he hopes the trend will counterbalance and “maybe would even overcome the other side of the coin, which is the really somewhat stunning and disturbing fact that people have no regard at all for society, only just focusing very selfishly on themselves.”
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“a role model in the flesh provides more than inspiration;
his or her very existence is confirmation of possibilities one may have every reason to doubt, saying,
‘yes, someone like me can do this.”
-sonia sotomayor
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credits: photo/nbcdfw.com,npr/the Hechinger Report in collaboration with GBH Boston, Kirk Carapezza, Jon Marcus
Anthony Fauci is a hero. We could not find anyone better for our youth to look up to. Through these turbulent times he has been a beacon for science and hope. I am glad he is having the impact he is. That is what people would call legacy. Great post, Beth, about a very deserving person!
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I so agree with all of that, brad, and happy to share
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I was a little surprised that he was not named Time’s person of the year. No one instills confidence like Dr. Fauci!
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so right!
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His integrity and willingness to speak out for what he believes is right are refreshing and so encouraging.
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so very much so –
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Medical profession is always respected but this epidemic had shone the light on the selfless service of the doctors and nurses.
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That is exactly right
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👍👍👍
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This is a man to be admired, Beth.
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This is the kind of news I like to hear – I can’t imagine why my news media doesn’t pick up on it? Not dramatic enough I suppose.
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It was on npr –
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I am glad the media keeps us informed. I try to choose carefully what I watch. I do agree with you that more could be done to headline these wonderful events.
Unfortunately I have neighbors that never heard of Dr. Fauci. And probably wouldn’t believe him if they did.
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The covid guidelines are actually pure common sense – that’s all it’ll take and we’ll come through this.
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I’ll be glad to see/read any kind of sense. Whether pure or common. LOL
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I agree –
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you’re right
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I’m glad for the media as well
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So true! I teach health and clinical psychology in a nursing program in Canada. Our enrolment in 2020 is the highest it has ever been. Great post Beth! Dr. D
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That’s so great to hear, thank you!
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Just wondering what reason the applicants actually gave as to why they enrolled in medical school.
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It would be great to see some of them
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All of the honorable, honest people like Fauci who just want to use their knowledge to help guide us through something unknown deserve so much credit right now – never have we seen such an aggressive counter-attack to facts
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You are so right
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Thank goodness for all the professional people …. medical and others …. who have guided us through these terrible times.
It is unfortunate that we needed a pandemic to illuminate these heroes.
They are an inspiration.
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Role model, indeed. He has stayed calm in spite of moronic calls to fire him, remaining a beacon of hope in a sea of stupidity.
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oh, has he ever
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I’m familiar with this man from the 1980s. You would not want to read my opinion.
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why not?
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great to hear; hopefully there is the same increase in applicants for nursing school…
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I think the medical professions as a whole will benefit
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fingers crossed…
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I love that our version of “hero” is expanding beyond large men who throw tiny balls:).
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yes!)
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How wonderful.
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such a good effect
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Thank you
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Welcome dear
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we are told there is always a silver lining to all disasters and this one’s a ripper 🙂
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Indeed
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The politicians went off the deep end when they tried to portray Dr. Fauci as some power-grabbing opportunist. Serving with many different administrations should have earned people’s confidence. I was also impressed by how he kept his cool under ridiculous criticism from people who know far less than him.
We need to look for any silver linings we can find with this pandemic.
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he really did, grace under pressure. yes, we need to find the positives –
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It great to see that something good has come out of the pandemic.
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I so agree, norah
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Wouldn’t you love (I would!) to have Dr. Fauci over for dinner? To just sit and talk with him? I appreciate him so much.
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oh, yes! that would be an incredible experience
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