Small Patients, Big Impacts: The Price of Undervaluing Pediatricians

Prioritizing pediatric care has the potential to save society tens of billions of dollars [1]. Routine childhood immunizations have reduced potential healthcare costs by almost three trillion dollars [2]. Yet, despite enormous savings, pediatricians are among the lowest paid physicians in the United States [3].

As of 2022, the top six lowest-paying medical specialties in the country were Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Infectious Disease, Pediatric Rheumatology, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Pediatric Nephrology, and General Pediatrics [4]. The pattern is clear: to become a pediatrician is to reduce your value in the eyes of the healthcare system. 

Consequently, it comes as no surprise that medical students, often saddled with crippling debt, would shy away from a specialty that wouldn’t allow them to pay off their loans. Why should they be expected to choose a career in which they are promised to be paid 25% less than their colleagues who treat adults [5]? As residency application rates are rising, so is the number of pediatric residency spots left unclaimed. In the span of just one year, the proportion of pediatric residency spots filled after the match dropped from 97% to 92% [6].

Without pediatricians, the financial burden on the healthcare system could reach unreasonable numbers. Action must be taken to combat the concerning decline in interest in pediatric healthcare. Some interventions involve providing early exposure to pediatrics to encourage more medical students to pursue this field of medicine [7]. Perhaps a stronger approach would be to target the root cause of the issue by reducing salary disparities and subsidizing pediatric subspecialties [8]. 

From a purely economic standpoint, it is clear that pediatricians are an essential part of the medical system. Recognizing the value of pediatricians through fair pay is necessary for the continued strength of healthcare in the United States.

Designed by: Jimin Lee

Reviewed by: Akhil E

References:

[1] Early childhood health interventions could save billions in health costs later in life. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Retrieved November 17, 2025 from https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2009/guyer-early- childhood.

[2] Health and Economic Benefits of Routine Childhood Immunizations in the Era of the Vaccines for Children Program — United States, 1994–2023. (2024, August 8). CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/ mm7331a2.htm.

[3] Haeffele, P. (2023, March 24). 20 lowest-paying specialties in 2022. Becker’s ASC Review. https://www.beckersasc.com/uncategorized/20-lowest- paying-specialties-in-2022/.

[4] Haeffele, P. (2023, March 24). 20 lowest-paying specialties in 2022. Becker’s ASC Review. https://www.beckersasc.com/uncategorized/20-lowest- paying-specialties-in-2022/.

[5] According to Dr. Sallie Permar, "A Nation With Too Few Pediatricians Could See a Soar in Health Care Costs." (2024, April 5). Weill Cornell Medicine Pediatrics. https://pediatrics.weill. cornell.edu/news/according-dr-sallie-permar-nation-too-few-pediatricians-could-see-soar-health-care-costs.

[6] Balch, B. (2024, September 26). Why are fewer U.S. MD graduates choosing pediatrics? AAMC News. https://www.aamc.org/news/why-are-fewer-us-md- graduates-choosing-pediatrics.

[7] Workgroup: Redesign Education. AMSPDC Pediatrics Workforce Initiative. Retrieved November 17, 2025 from https://amspdc.org/workforce/redesign-education/.

[8] Permar, S. & Vinci, R.J. (2024, April 1). A nation with too few pediatricians could see health care costs soar. STAT News. https://www.statnews.com/2024/04/02/too- few-pediatricians-health-care-costs/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.