Surgical and Urologic Manpower in the United States, 1969 to 1978

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Abstract
Between 1969-1978 the number of board-certified urologists increased by 71%, while the population of the USA increased by 8.2%. In 1978 the ratio of board-certified urologists to population was 1:32, 416 and 326 of 370 1st yr residency positions available in urology in the USA were filled. If urologists continue to be produced at the present rate, the urologist to population ratio will be .apprx. 1:25,972 by yr 2000. Apparently there are too many urologists being trained yearly, which was indicated by 68% of the academic program directors surveyed in 1979. To restore the ratio of urologist to population .apprx. 1:35,000 by yr 2000 the number of urologists being trained yearly should be reduced to 156 or by .apprx. 50%. The only reasonable chance of achieving a reduction in urologists being trained in the near future is by voluntary decreases in the size of training programs. There are many consequences of overproduction of urologists, including unnecessary surgery, atrophy of skills among practitioners and diminution of major training programs because of lack of patient referrals. This issue is of equal importance to private practitioners and to academicians.

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