HWN Suggests

The Future of Pediatrics: What Happens If We Continue Down This Path?

Pediatrics is at a crossroads. The crisis in primary care, the decline of inpatient pediatric beds, and the growing shortages of sub-specialists are not just signs of a broken system—they are indicators of where we are headed if meaningful change doesn’t occur. If we continue down this path, the future of pediatrics may look very different from what we know today. Pediatricians could shift from being the trusted providers of comprehensive, long-term care for children to specialists called in only after problems have already been identified. Primary care may increasingly be dominated by family practitioners or nurse practitioners, while pediatricians focus on referrals and tertiary care.

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Featured

 Where Are All the Pediatricians?

The road leading to a career in pediatrics is becoming more deserted these days, and the decline in subspecialty interest has led to significant concerns regarding the ability of health care professionals to meet the growing demands of our pediatric population. Not having an adequate workforce is worrisome, and young doctors saying "nope, not interested" is a warning sign to the future of child health care.

Articles of Interest

A History of Pediatric Specialties

Early in the 20th century, pediatrics was first accepted as a distinct specialty - one that was defined and developed by physicians with the conviction that children and their diseases require the attention of those who are specifically skilled in their care. Pediatrics, as a separate specialty, led to many advances in childcare, including eradication of rickets and scurvy, universal immunization, prevention of TB, and the establishment of proper nutrition standards. The establishment of the specialty of pediatrics also led to the understanding of the importance of high standards of child care and improved medical education. Finally, it brought together physicians and scientists who shared a common goal, leading to the establishment of pediatric societies in many countries.

Barriers to Choosing Pediatrics as a Specialty

In conclusion, our findings suggest that, while medical students recognize the importance of pediatrics, their interest wanes as they progress through their education, likely due to increased awareness of the specialty’s challenges. Consistent concern across educational stages regarding legal risks and psychological burdens highlights the need for strategic interventions to support students’ career decisions.

Disinterest in pediatric care leads to concern for the future of child health

Katherine Jordan, MD, and Priyanka Rao, MD, from the UNC Division of General Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, are authors of a new perspective titled, "Where are all the pediatricians?" Published in JAMA, the article offers an analysis and an in-depth look into why careers in pediatrics are dwindling.

Fewer doctors are going into pediatrics. That's leaving a huge gap in hospitals

You know, if you go into pediatrics, especially if you pursue additional training in a pediatric subspecialty, something like endocrinology or infectious diseases, you will be some of the lowest-paid physicians. So despite six years of training after medical school, you really will not be making nearly as much money as our medicine colleagues or as our surgical colleagues.

Good trouble: The pursuit of health equity in pediatric subspecialty care

Pediatric health inequities have become more apparent as more data has been collected over time. Many of these pediatric populations have chronic diseases, and are cared by both primary care and subspecialty pediatricians. Traditionally, the role of advocacy and awareness of public health and the social determinants of health in caring for pediatric populations has defaulted to the general pediatrician.

History of Pediatric Surgery

When speaking of the history of pediatric surgery in North America, it is difficult to do so without immediately uttering the name Ladd in the next breath. The two are inexorably linked as Dr. William E. Ladd (1880-1967) is universally recognized as the father of pediatric surgery on this continent.

Lack of Pediatric Specialists Delays Care, Puts Kids with Special Needs at Risk

Delaying needed specialty care for children, or forcing them to be seen in emergency rooms, is inadequate medical care, and can put lives at risk. The dearth of pediatric specialists results from several factors, most notably poor reimbursement for physicians who treat children, and extended training requirements that leave young physicians deeply in debt when they begin to practice.

The Future of Pediatric Subspecialty Physicians

Each year, approximately 10 percent to 20 percent of all U.S. children visit a pediatric subspecialist. Pediatric subspecialist physicians complete pediatric residency and receive additional fellowship training in a specific area, and augment pediatric primary care by caring for children who require technical procedures or have health conditions that occur infrequently. These physicians include pediatric oncologists or cardiologists, adolescent medicine subspecialists, and pediatric developmental and behavioral subspecialists, among others.

The future of the pediatric practice

As an optimist who has seen how technologies have slowly improved health care over the course of many years, I believe that future pediatricians will have many new tools at their disposal that will improve patient care. For example, we will see Drs Alexa, Siri, and Google evolve and have the ability to remind diabetic patients to measure and record their sugars, suggest healthy eating habits and exercise for children who are overweight, and remind families of upcoming health care visits. They will facilitate booking appointments and facilitate telehealth visits, if needed. Translation systems are improving and soon will let you converse with foreign language-speaking patients in real time, with both users merely wearing headphones.

The Growth and Development of a Specialty: The History of Pediatrics

Spanning less than two centuries, pediatrics is a relatively young medical specialty. Prior to the development of pediatrics, the medical needs of infants and children were provided by families, friends, and midwives; physicians rarely contributed to the health of this population. However, events beginning in the 19th century resulted in the development of physicians who specifically addressed the medical problems of infancy and childhood; thus the pediatric specialty was born.

The Importance of Subspecialty Pediatricians to the Health and Well-Being of the Nation’s Children

With recent data demonstrating that access to a pediatric subspecialist remains difficult for some subspecialties and in some regions of the country,3 there are growing concerns about the future health outcomes of children living with chronic disease.

Why Doctors Aren’t Going Into Pediatrics

I haven’t actively practiced pediatrics for a few years, but one of my favorite things to do is to be an on-call physician for friends’ and colleagues’ kids. While I can address most of their issues over the phone, some need a recommendation for a pediatrician for in-person care. In the last few years, though, making such connections has been frustrating. Many pediatricians that I recommend can’t take on new patients. There aren’t enough pediatricians right now, and because of that, some kids are unable to get the care they need.

Why You Can’t Find a Pediatrician

It’s a problem parents face across America: a shortage of pediatricians, and especially pediatric specialists. Medical students aren’t going into pediatrics at high rates, and that’s leading to coverage gaps. According to one study, about 8% fewer medical students went into pediatrics in 2020 than in 2015, while other specialties have seen big increases. In 2024, about 30% of pediatric residency programs did not fill open positions. As a result, says Sallie Permar, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, “children don’t have timely access to high-quality care, especially when they have chronic or complex disease.”

Resources

5 Informative Blogs About Pediatric Medicine

There are many informative blogs about pediatric medicine on the Web for pediatric professionals, aspiring pediatric professionals and parents. These pediatric medicine blogs offer information on pediatric medicine, pediatric careers and also parenting tips. Readers can join in on forums, ask questions or just absorb the fountain of information that’s added to the sites regularly.

World Pediatrics

To heal more children, in less time, by transforming access to advanced pediatric healthcare.

American Board of Pediatrics

Pediatric care encompasses a broad spectrum of health services ranging from preventive health care to the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic diseases. Pediatricians understand the many factors that affect the growth and development of children. They understand that children are not simply small adults. Children change rapidly, and they must be approached with an appreciation for their stage of physical and mental development.