University of Maryland medical school to expand class size amid physician shortage

The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) has received approval to gradually expand its medical school class over the next five years — a step university leaders say is aimed at helping ease mounting concerns about the nation’s physician workforce.

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the national accrediting body for M.D. programs, approved the plan to increase enrollment from 175 students in the entering class of the 2026–27 academic year to 200 students by 2031–32. This year’s entering class numbers 173 students.

The move comes as national workforce projections continue to point to significant gaps ahead. Estimates cited by the university from the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) suggest the U.S. could need as many as 200,000 additional primary care physicians and 200,000 specialty physicians over the next 20 years.

“We are seeing projections of physician shortages that are deeply concerning for the future of medical care in the U.S.,” said UMSOM Dean Mark T. Gladwin, M.D., who is also the vice president for medical affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. “According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the U.S. could face a shortage of up to 84,000 physicians by 2036, with more than one-third of currently active physicians expected to retire within the next decade.”

“Our goal is to do everything we can to address this critical demand and ensure that patients have access to high-quality care,” Gladwin added.

Accreditation clears the way

School officials said the LCME’s approval reflects confidence that the institution has the faculty, facilities and clinical training capacity needed to support a larger student body without diluting educational standards.

Rather than a sudden jump, the class-size increase will unfold gradually over several years.

Building on workforce programs already in place

UMSOM leaders said the expansion builds on efforts already underway to strengthen Maryland’s physician pipeline.

That includes a Rural Health Initiative aimed at increasing the number of physicians practicing in underserved rural communities across the state. The school has also launched a new combined B.S./M.D. program with the University of Maryland, College Park, designed to attract students interested in technology-driven careers tied to the future of medicine.

At the same time, the school is working to expand the pool of practicing physicians who serve as preceptors for student clerkship rotations and to add new electives.

“Expanding our class size empowers us to launch and grow innovative programs that address critical health care needs,” said Donna Parker, M.D., FACP, senior associate dean for medical education and chief academic officer of the medical education program. “This flexibility ensures we can adapt to the evolving challenges of health care while strengthening our role as leaders in medical education.”

The University of Maryland’s announcement reflects a broader push to expand training capacity as the population ages, demand for care rises and large numbers of physicians approach retirement.