Georgia expands med school pipeline

Georgia is trying to solve a local doctor shortage by changing where physicians train. State lawmakers approved $16.7 million in March for new residency programs at St. Joseph’s/Candler in Savannah, part of a partnership with Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia that hospital leaders say is meant to keep more graduates in the Coastal Empire. The Savannah program arrives as hospitals across the country keep leaning on temporary staffing. Medicus Healthcare Solutions said in its Q3 2026 market report, published August 5, that more than 171,700 physicians — about 17% of the U.S. physician workforce — are working or have worked locum tenens, either alongside permanent jobs or as a standalone career. (wjcl.com) Together, those two data points show the split in the current workforce response: states are investing in local training pipelines, while health systems continue to buy short-term coverage where permanent hiring remains difficult. That framing is supported by St. Joseph’s/Candler executives, who have described southeast Georgia as a gap in physician recruitment, especially outside Chatham County. (medicushcs.com) ### Why is Georgia putting money into Savannah residency slots now? Georgia lawmakers approved the funding in early March to help St. Joseph’s/Candler launch multiple residency programs over the next several years. The money is intended to support facilities, technology and clinics tied to the new graduate medical education effort. Paul P. (wjcl.com) Hinchey, president and chief executive of St. Joseph’s/Candler, said the system had spent three years identifying what he called a “hole in the donut” on physician recruitment in southeast Georgia. He said the shortage is especially acute in the rural areas surrounding Chatham County. ### What exactly is St. Joseph’s/Candler building? (wjcl.com) St. Joseph’s/Candler and the Medical College of Georgia received accreditation on April 30 for the health system’s first internal medicine residency program. The first class will start July 1, 2027, and the full buildout is designed to reach 103 residents across internal medicine, family medicine, a cardiovascular disease fellowship and general surgery by 2031. (wjcl.com) Savannah-based training is central to the pitch. Elizabeth Gray, dean of the Medical College of Georgia’s Armstrong campus, told WSAV in May that when a medical student completes school and residency in the same city, there is about a 70% likelihood that physician stays there. The first program is expected to welcome 20 residents in summer 2027, with interviews beginning in the fall and match results arriving on St. (sjchs.org) Patrick’s Day, according to WSAV. ### Why does training location matter so much? The American Medical Association survey cited by Medicus found that 38.6% of residents and fellows said they definitely would or were likely to remain with the organization where they trained after graduation. (wsav.com) Medicus said that was up 5.3 percentage points from 2024. David Hess, dean of the Medical College of Georgia, and Hinchey said in St. (wsav.com) Joseph’s/Candler materials that existing physician education programs in Savannah should improve graduate retention when paired with the new residency program. ### If states are adding slots, why are hospitals still using locum doctors? (medicushcs.com) Medicus said the locum tenens workforce has continued to grow as physician shortages persist and healthcare organizations seek what it called a dependable way to sustain access to care. The same report said 82% of physicians were employed by hospitals or corporate entities as of January 2026, citing the Physicians Advocacy Institute. (sjchs.org) That leaves hospitals pursuing two tracks at once. Georgia is funding long-lead residency expansion in Savannah, while staffing firms and providers are documenting a labor market in which temporary coverage remains a mainstream part of care delivery. ### What happens next in coastal Georgia? July 1, 2027, is the start date for the inaugural internal medicine class at St. (medicushcs.com) Joseph’s/Candler. Family medicine, general surgery and cardiology training are scheduled to be added in subsequent years, and the system said it plans to reach 103 residents by 2031. (sjchs.org) (wjcl.com)