The Geriatrics Workforce Policy Studies Center (GWPS)

Frequently Asked Questions About Geriatrics

The following answers to questions about geriatricians and the shortage of geriatrics healthcare providers is based on data from the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP) and the American Geriatric Society’s (AGS) Geriatrics Workforce Policy Studies (GWPS) Center.

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What is a Geriatrician?

How many board certified geriatricians and geropsychiatrists are there in the US?

What special training do geriatricians receive?

How many geriatrics training slots are there? How many are filled?

How many students are going into geriatrics training this year? How does this compare with previous years?

What are the current and projected future doctor to patient ratios in geriatrics?

What's the average salary for a geriatrician?

What factors are contributing to - or are expected to contribute to - the shortage of geriatricians?

Are there any sub-specialties within geriatrics that are able to recruit more candidates than others?