Doctors of debt: Cutting or capping the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) hurts physicians in training

• Main Authors: Emman Dabaja, Mohamed Macki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bulgarian Association of Young Surgeons 2018-05-01
• Series: International Journal of Medical Reviews and Case Reports
• Subjects: education; Debt; Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Online Access: http://www.ejmanager.com/fulltextpdf.php?mno=293115

Growing medical student debt has increased reliance on government loan forgiveness plans like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Evidence suggests that delayed financial gratification in addition to stagnant resident salaries has exacerbated problems related to salary gaps and burnout. Although capping the PSLF may help curb national debt in the United States Department of Education, in the case of medical students, this policy is misplaced. The objective of this review is to discuss the implications of capping the PSLF program on medical student education. Policy reform should focus on halting medical school tuition hikes and increasing resident physician salaries.