Retention & Recuitment

Increasing the number of African American physicians is one strategy that addresses the challenge of health disparities, as recommended by the Institute of Medicine (2004) and endorsed by numerous medical organizations, including the National Medical Association (NMA). As with many communities across the United States, the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Area is faced with the challenge of addressing issues of health disparities, particularly within its underserved communities.

To address such inequities within the Bay Area, the Physicians Medical Forum (PMF) conducted The African American Retention and Recruitment Study a comprehensive project, which incorporated the development of a PMF Physician Registry and administration of a series of focus group interviews among African American physicians, fellows, residents and medical students to explore and seek recommendations and strategies around retention and recruitment of African American physicians in Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties.

The 2005 Physicians Retention and Recruitment Study is now available. If you would like a copy of this study, please call:

(510) 874-7700

or email us at info@pmfmd.com