RT Journal
A1 Schwartz MD, Durning S, Linzer M, Hauer KE
T1 MEdical students’ changing views, career choice, and primary care payment reform—reply
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2011
FD October 24
VO 171
IS 19
SP 1772
OP 1773
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.489
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.489
AB 
We appreciate the letter by Olson and Rosenbaum and share their encouragement regarding medical students' improved views of internal medicine careers in our study.1 We agree that narrowing the compensation gap between cognitive and procedural specialists is an important policy aim that might encourage more students to follow their values into generalist careers. However, it remains difficult to tease out the direct impact of income from the influence of work life, lifestyle, and prestige. We lack direct evidence that reducing the wealth gap would expand the primary care workforce. Nevertheless, as good internists, we are compelled to act despite the uncertainty and to carefully study its impact.