Perceptions of medical school deans and state medical society executives about physician supply.

Context: Physician shortages are appearing, yet controversy about their significance and uncertainty about their remedy exist.

Objectives: To sample the perceptions of medical school deans and state medical society executives about the adequacy of physician supply, to determine the perceived impact of any shortages on medical schools, and to assess the capacity of medical schools to expand.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Medical school deans in the United States and Puerto Rico were surveyed by means of a structured questionnaire, and officials of US state medical societies were queried by means of open-ended telephone interviews.