Duluth’s Continued Success in Matching Students into Family Medicine

Jim Boulger, PhD, MAFP Honorary Member and Professor Emeritus of the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus, shares about the Duluth campus’ continued, unparalleled success in matching medical students into family medicine. The mission of the Medical School’s Duluth campus is centered around being “a leader in educating physicians dedicated to family medicine.”


Duluth’s Medical School Graduates Again Select Family Medicine as Their Top Choice

By Jim Boulger, PhD


There is, and has been for quite some time, a dire national shortage of primary care and family physicians to serve our health care needs. This has been particularly the case for physicians serving rural and other underserved populations.

The University of Minnesota Medical School’s Duluth campus was created to address this need and is pleased to report on our continuing successes. Once again (in 2021), medical students who began training in Duluth four years ago selected family medicine as their specialty of choice at a much greater frequency than other U.S. medical school graduates.

2021 Matriculation: By the Numbers
  • 39.7% of students who began their training on the Duluth campus selected family medicine for residency—approximately 4.5 times the national rate for students from other allopathic schools. Nationally in 2021, the rate of entry to family medicine was only 8.7% for graduating U.S. medical school seniors.
  • 58.7% of students who began their training on the Duluth campus selected primary care residencies.
Alumni: By the Numbers
  • Approximately 45% of Duluth practicing alumni are serving rural or small communities.
  • More than 1,000 alumni are currently practicing family medicine.

Congratulations to all of our new University of Minnesota Medical School alumni who will graduate this May!



Learn more about the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus.

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