Dermatology: Examining Current Supply, Demand, and Recruiting Trends
Dermatologists are physicians who have expertise in the care of the body’s largest and fastest growing organ – the skin. This includes treatment of normal skin and diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the skin. Dermatologists also specialize in skin appendages, such as hair and nails.
These physicians are also responsible for helping patients with the improvement of their physical appearance as it relates to the skin, hair, and nails; for example, lessening the appearance of wrinkles or scars. Providing such a wide scope of elective and emergency care, it’s no shock that dermatological services are more in-demand now than ever.
Can the supply of qualified dermatologists keep pace with this spiking demand? Let’s view a snapshot of current dermatology trends by the numbers.
Notable Dermatology Supply and Demand Trends
Supply and demand trends in dermatology reflect those of the wider physician workforce, in which pervasive shortages are emerging. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in its June 2021 study projected a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034. This includes a shortage of up to approximately 48,000 primary care physicians, but an even more severe shortage of up to 78,000 specialists.
As in many other specialties, demand for dermatologists is being driven by population aging and patient lifestyle choices, which for many people includes prolonged exposure to the sun or to sunlamps. Though senior citizens 65 or older represent only 14% of the population, they account for 37% of diagnostic tests and procedures, according to the CDC. The population of people 65 and older is expected to reach 83.7 million by 2050, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, up from 44 million today, a demographic trend that will significantly increase demand for dermatologists and many other types of specialists.
Already today, skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form on cancer in the U.S. and its incidence is expected to rise due the factors referenced above.
- Each year, 5.4 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are detected.
- More new cases of skin cancer are detected every year than the combined cases of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer.
- Approximately 87,110 cases of invasive melanoma were diagnosed in 2017 alone (Skin Cancer Foundation).
Cosmetic Procedures are Driving Dermatologist Demand
Demand for dermatologists also has increased due to the growing number of cosmetic procedures and treatments that dermatologists perform (derm abrasions, laser hair removal, etc.), some of which did not exist or were rarely performed 20 years ago, but which are very much in demand today. Meanwhile, the supply of dermatologists remains limited, as illustrated by the chart below:
Specialty Demographic: Dermatology
| Total Dermatologists |
13,500
|
| Active in Patient Care | 31,110 |
| Final-Year Residents | 470 |
| Board Certified | 82% |
| IMG | 4% |
| Male | 57% |
| Female | 43% |
| Under 45 | 39% |
| Over 55 | 38% |
As these numbers indicate, there are only about 11,500 dermatologists in the U.S. today in active patient care roles. Of these, about 43% are women, though women comprise only about 36% of all physicians. This affects total physician FTEs in the specialty, as female physicians typically work fewer hours and see fewer patients on average than do male physicians, while often retiring earlier (see AMN Healthcare 2019 Survey of Women Physicians).
In addition, 38% of dermatologists are 55 years old or older and a wave of retirements in the specialty can be anticipated. Though retirements are likely to accelerate, the number of newly trained dermatology residents entering the field is relatively fixed at around 470, due in part to the cap Congress placed on graduate medical education (GME) funding in 1997 (the cap was removed in 2020 by the COVID-19 relief bill, but only 1,000 new residency positions were
funded over five years).
It also should be noted that only 4% of dermatologists are international medical graduates (IMGs) compared to about 25% of all practicing doctors. This limits the number of dermatologists on J-1 visas who are more likely to practice in rural or other traditionally underserved areas as a means of obtaining permanent U.S. residence.
Dermatologist Recruiting Recommendations
Recruiting dermatologists is one of the most difficult challenges in the field of physician recruiting today. One of the reasons dermatologists are so difficult to recruit is related to the style of dermatology practice itself. For the most part, dermatology practice is entirely outpatient, with little to no hospital inpatient work or call/coverage required. Dermatologists do not typically generate significant inpatient or outpatient revenue for hospitals, and dermatologists tend to own their own lasers and other ancillaries, deriving revenue from them directly.
A Coveted Practice Style
Dermatology also is extremely remunerative, in large part because many dermatology practices focus on cosmetic procedures and treatments that usually are elective and paid for directly by patients, in full, and often in advance. For this reason, dermatologists can work four-day weeks or even three-day weeks and still earn among the highest percentages of all physicians.
Not surprisingly, dermatology attracts some of the top physicians in the country. Dermatology residency programs get to pick the highest rated medical school graduates – many of them from Ivy League schools. As indicated above, very few dermatologists are international medical graduates – the great majority are graduates of U.S. allopathic medical schools, and only a relative few are graduates of osteopathic schools.
It therefore is important to be flexible when recruiting dermatologists, particularly regarding schedules. The majority of offers dermatologists receive feature four-day weeks at the most, and often three-day weeks. It also is important to be flexible on candidate parameters, but this
is difficult because virtually all dermatologists are cream of the crop when it comes to education and training.
AMN Healthcare Physician Solutions: Your Proven Strategic Partner
At AMN Healthcare, we understand the complexities of recruiting dermatologists. Our Physician Solutions team offers tailored recruitment, including flexible scheduling like four-day or three-day workweeks. We recognize the unique expertise of each dermatologist and take a personalized approach to candidate selection, ensuring healthcare organizations access top-tier talent in dermatology.
As an industry thought leader, AMN Healthcare produces a series of surveys, white papers, speaking presentations and other resources intended to provide insight into physician supply and demand, physician compensation, practice patterns, recruiting strategies and related trends.
Access the full whitepaper to uncover other current trends affecting the recruitment of dermatologists, including current supply and demand projections, compensation in the specialty, and recommendations for recruiting these highly sought-after health professionals.
