Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Multicenter Study
Influence of Student Loan Debt on General Surgery Resident Career and Lifestyle Decision-Making.
The average medical school debt in 2011 was $170,000, and by 2017 it increased to $190,000. High debt burden has been shown to affect career choices for residents in primary care specialties; however, it has not been well studied among surgical residents. The purpose of this multi-institutional study was to assess the amount of debt among general surgery residents and its effects on their career and lifestyle decisions. ⋯ Surgical residents believe their debt is a significant financial burden. Furthermore, high debt significantly influences their financial security, practice location, and salary goals.