dents who graduated from MU and WVU medical schools were from an urban background ( respectively , n = 33 ; 76.7 %; n = 83 , 63.8 %) compared to a rural background ( n = 10 , 23.3 %; n = 47 , 36.2 %). Roughly equal numbers of respondents who attended WVSOM were from urban ( n = 18 , 48.6 %) and rural backgrounds ( n = 19 , 51.4 %).
Medical Residency
A total of 449 respondents provided information regarding residency training with 43 % of respondents completing residency in WV , 51 % completing a residency outside of WV , and 6 % who did not provide a response for residency location . Most respondents completed a residency in family medicine ( n = 114 ; 25.4 %) or internal medicine ( n = 39 , 20.0 %). Additional types of residencies completed included anesthesiology ( n = 22 , 4.9 %), emergency medicine ( n = 23 , 5.1 %), general surgery ( n = 30 , 6.7 %), neurology ( n = 13 , 2.0 %), obstetrics and gynecology ( n = 14 , 3.1 %), orthopedic surgery ( n = 20 , 4.5 %), pediatrics ( n = 37 , 8.2 %), psychiatry ( n = 22 , 4.9 %), radiology ( n = 6 , 1.3 %), and “ other ” ( n = 58 , 12.9 %). Other types of residencies reported through a follow-up , open-text question included cardiothoracic surgery , critical care , dermatology , emergency medicine , internal medicine / pediatrics , family medicine / pediatrics , internal medicine / psychiatry , neuromuscular manipulation , neurosurgery , occupational medicine , ophthalmology , otolaryngology , pathology , plastic surgery , public health , radiation oncology , urology , and vascular surgery .
TABLE 1 : Factors that Influence the Decision to Practice Medicine in West Virginia by Medical School Attended ( continued )
Community Attributes n Not at All Slightly Moderately Very Extremely
Established network of friends / family
381 129 51 59 78 64
MU 44 6 7 5 13 13 WVSOM 35 4 8 6 11 6
WVU 126 14 13 31 36 32
Not WV 176 105 23 17 18 13 Local school system 384 252 45 55 16 16
Recreational activities in the area
MU 43 29 6 5 1 2 WVSOM 34 16 5 7 4 2
WVU 131 70 17 31 5 8 Not WV 176 137 17 12 6 4
376 136 83 92 43 22
MU 43 14 16 6 5 2 WVSOM 34 13 6 9 5 1
WVU 123 33 29 36 16 9
Not WV 176 76 32 41 17 10 Work Environment n Not at all Slightly Moderately Very Extremely Ability to advance career 374 133 57 97 60 27
Access to hospital services and referral sites
MU 42 18 7 11 5 1 WVSOM 35 13 4 9 7 2
WVU 120 43 17 35 18 7 Not WV 177 59 29 42 30 17
375 133 65 90 68 19
MU 41 17 5 13 5 1 WVSOM 34 13 8 7 6 0
WVU 121 45 17 30 25 4 Not WV 179 58 35 40 32 14
Access to on-call coverage 372 185 61 56 52 18 MU 43 27 5 6 4 1
WVSOM 34 16 6 4 6 2 WVU 121 51 22 25 19 4
Not WV 174 91 28 21 23 11
More respondents self-identifying as a native of WV completed residency in-state ( n = 127 ) compared to out of state ( n = 55 ). More respondents who completed residency out of state ( n = 165 ) did not identify as a native of WV . More respondents who identified as non-native of WV completed residencies in cities with a population greater than 100,000 ( n = 171 ), while 137 respondents identifying as a native of WV completed a residency in a location with a population less than 50,000 . More respondents who completed residencies in cities with a population greater than 100,000 were currently practicing specialty care ( n = 110 ) compared to those practicing primary care ( n = 59 ), while more respondents who completed a residency in a location with a population less than 50,000 were currently practicing primary care ( n = 134 ). It must be noted that all residency programs within WV are in cities with a population less than 100,000 . 23
Medical Specialty
More respondents identifying as native West Virginians provide primary care ( n = 115 ) compared to native West Virginians practicing specialty care ( n = 70 ). A higher number of respondents who did not iden-
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