Print edition: 
When it comes to producing doctors who fill gaps in the country's health care system, the University of Kansas School of Medicine ranks among the best in the country, according to a recent study.
The study, conducted by researchers at George Washington University, surveyed 141 medical schools across the country and ranked them based on the number of students who practice primary care, work in underserved areas or are minorities.
The KU medical school ranked fifth on the list, which looked at where students who graduated from 1999 to 2001 established their practices after completing their residencies.
While many schools focus on clinical services or high-tech research, other schools, like KU, excel at producing physicians who work to serve a social mission, said Candice Chen, the study's co-author.
"They're producing doctors who are filling the gaps for access in U.S. health care," she said.
Primary care physicians play a crucial role in the health care system because they are often the first point of contact for patients, said H. David Wilson, dean of the medical school's Wichita campus.
There is a pressing need for primary care physicians in Kansas, Wilson said, because a high percentage of Kansas doctors are over the age of 55 and will soon retire.
The KU medical school, especially the Wichita campus, has been successful in producing primary care physicians because students interact with and are influenced by mentors in the medical community who practice primary care, Wilson said.
"The role models we supply are superb," he said. "The students who come to Wichita get a lot of up close and personal time with practicing doctors. They tend to follow people they see as the best role models."
The KU medical school also excels at producing physicians from diverse backgrounds, especially American Indian and Hispanic physicians.
There is a need for more doctors among the Hispanic and American Indian populations, Wilson said, and patients often feel more comfortable with a doctor who shares their background.
Many medical students come to KU from rural communities, Wilson said, and these students are often motivated to return to their communities to establish their practices.
"They tend to consider going back home because they see the need for doctors in their communities," he said.
