As Texas’ population continues to boom, so does its crop of newly licensed physicians, the Texas Medical Association’s annual Texas Physician Workforce Update reveals.
That report announces 7,609 medical licenses issued by the Texas Medical Board in 2024, breaking the previous year’s record (7,060) by 7.8%. Meanwhile, the Lone Star State’s population increased by 1.6%. Although well below the growth in new physicians, Texas added more people than any other state last year.
The interplay of those metrics represents both a success and a challenge that the state is equipped to meet, says Stephen Whitney, MD. He chairs TMA’s Committee on Physician Distribution and Health Care Access, which produced the report.
“Current physician growth is more than enough to keep up with population growth, so over time should help to address the continuing shortages,” said Dr. Whitney. Still, “despite the striking growth in physicians, we still rank 42nd among states in doctor-to-patient ratio. This is partly because we were even farther behind before, and partly due to the rapid growth in the state’s population.”
The state’s current ratio at 202 direct patient care physicians to 100,000 patients has climbed steadily ahead of population growth since 2015, when it was 177.4 physicians to 100,000 patients (13.9%), TMA’s analysis shows. The state’s current ratio remains well below the U.S. total ratio of 252 physicians to 100,000 U.S. patients, placing Texas in the bottom quintile nationally despite the state’s improvement.
According to TMB materials, of 6,949 of the 7,609 newly licensed in State Fiscal Year 2024:
- 4,762 went to direct patient care physicians;
- 1,309 were given to residents and fellows;
- 288 went to administrative medicine;
- 241 were awarded to nonpracticing physicians;
- 222 went to medical school faculty; and
- 15 were given to research physicians.
TMB did not report practice status for 660 of the newly licensed physicians.
“Texas is more deficient in direct patient care physicians than the other categories,” Dr. Whitney said. “It is encouraging to see so many of the new license holders interested in direct patient care.”
Medicine’s past advocacy wins in medical liability reform lay much of the groundwork for the strong licensure showing, he added.
“We had a record number of doctors licensed in the state last year, continuing a strong positive trend in licensures. Most attribute this sustained growth in physicians coming to Texas [because of] the medical malpractice reforms that TMA worked so hard for so long to pass.”
The high percentage of new licensees reporting plans for direct patient care indicates a low number relocating to Texas for other reasons such as retirement.
Of the newly licensed physicians, 81% graduated from out-of-state medical schools. Dr. Whitney credits this to a number of factors.
“Many doctors see Texas as a great place to live and practice. A strong economy, population growth, and a favorable [medical liability] environment all combine to draw doctors here.”
That development complements TMA’s long-held recruitment strategy: bolstering the state’s residency and fellowship programs. Texas’ own medical schools graduated 1,429 of the newly licensed physicians in the state, per TMA’s analysis.
“The ideal long-term solution for a stable physician workforce is to train them in Texas and, if possible, in the areas where doctors are most needed,” Dr. Whitney said.
Jessica Ridge
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1395