Why New Mexico Can’t Keep Its Doctors — And What We Can Do About It
New Mexico is facing one of the worst physician shortages in the country—hurting access to care, straining our healthcare system, and putting patients at risk. But the real crisis isn’t just how few doctors we have. It’s how few stay.
Here’s what you need to know about physician retention and training in New Mexico—and what it will take to fix it.
1. How bad is New Mexico’s doctor shortage?
By 2030, New Mexico is projected to be short more than 2,100 physicians, including over 300 primary care providers. Nearly every county in the state is classified as a Health Professional Shortage Area.
National context: The U.S. as a whole faces a shortage of 120,000+ doctors—but New Mexico ranks far worse than average, especially in critical care (44% worse) and urology (38% worse) access.
2. What’s driving the shortage?
It’s not just one thing—it’s a perfect storm:
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High rates of physician burnout and early retirement
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Too few residency training slots
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A high-risk legal environment with some of the nation’s largest malpractice payouts
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Rural isolation and lack of infrastructure
Other rural states face similar workforce challenges—but New Mexico combines high litigation risk with low residency output, making our situation especially severe.
3. Do UNM-trained doctors stay in-state?
Only 24% of UNM-trained physicians stay in New Mexico. That number rises to 52.5% for those who complete both med school and residency at UNM—but it’s still well below national averages.
National comparison: States like Texas and California retain over 60% of their in-state trainees, thanks to stronger job markets and safer legal climates.
4. What about BA/MD graduates?
New Mexico’s BA/MD pipeline shows promise, with a 51.8% retention rate overall—and nearly 70% among those who also complete residency here. Most of them go into primary care.
Still, other states with rural training programs (like Minnesota and North Carolina) see 75%+ retention, proving there’s room to grow.
5. Why do so many doctors leave?
Physicians cite:
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Lower salaries than neighboring states
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Fewer specialty programs and advancement opportunities
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High malpractice premiums and legal exposure
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Rural isolation and limited lifestyle amenities
Bottom line: New Mexico’s departure rate is higher than average—especially when compared to states that invest in retention through targeted incentives and training expansion.
6. How many residency slots does New Mexico offer?
Just 95 primary care residency slots statewide—far below what’s needed.
State comparisons:
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U.S. average: 290–320 per state
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California: 1,000+
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Colorado: more than double New Mexico’s number, despite being more urbanized
We rank among the lowest in the country for graduate medical education capacity.
7. What percentage of residents leave after training?
More than 45% of primary care residents trained in New Mexico leave to practice elsewhere.
National average: About 39%—making New Mexico’s outmigration problem especially stark.
8. What would help doctors stay?
Other rural states have shown what works:
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Expand residency and specialty training slots
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Offer rural housing stipends and loan forgiveness
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Fix the medical malpractice system
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Create clear, supported pathways into in-state practice
Without changes, we’ll keep training doctors who leave—and patients will pay the price.
9. How does malpractice risk affect retention?
New Mexico has the highest malpractice claim frequency per physician in the region and among the highest payouts in the nation. It’s one of the most legally risky places to practice medicine.
Neighboring states like Texas and Arizona have reformed their tort systems, reducing insurance costs and improving retention.
10. Are patients being impacted?
Absolutely. More than 1 million New Mexicans live in areas with too few providers. Wait times are growing. Specialist care is harder to access. And rural communities are being left behind.
The physician shortage isn’t just a workforce problem—it’s a patient access crisis.
The Bottom Line
New Mexico’s healthcare workforce challenges are not unsolvable—but they are urgent. If we want to keep the doctors we train, we need to invest in them, support them, and reform the systems that are driving them away.
Smart policy can fix this. But it has to start now.
Take Dive Deeper - Sources & References
New Mexico Physician Shortage Factsheet
New Mexico Health Care Workforce Committee, 2023 Report
https://nmhanet.org/uploads/files/NM_Physician_Shortage_Facts_2023.pdf
The Physician Shortage Isn’t Going Anywhere
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), 2021
https://www.aamc.org/news/physician-shortage-isnt-going-anywhere
Location Report – UNM School of Medicine Graduate Retention Data (2024)
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
https://hsc.unm.edu/medicine/education/md/location-report.html
UNM BA/MD Program Outcomes and Retention
UNM Combined BA/MD Degree Program
https://ba-md.unm.edu/about/program-success.html
Milliman Report: Malpractice Environment in New Mexico (2024)
Milliman, Inc. — Medical Professional Liability Analysis
https://www.milliman.com/en/insight/medical-professional-liability-trends-2024
Searchlight NM: Why New Mexico Doctors Are Leaving
Investigative journalism on healthcare workforce and legal risk
https://searchlightnm.org/why-new-mexico-doctors-are-leaving/
Graduate Medical Education Data Report (AAMC)
State-by-state comparison of GME slots and retention
https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/workforce/report/graduatemedical-education-data
Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) – HPSA Data
Federal designation of Health Professional Shortage Areas
https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-workforce/shortage-areas