International medical graduates in rural America: The 1987 distribution of physicians who entered the US medical system between 1969 and 1982

This study examines the differential location on Dec. 31, 1987, in nonmetropolitan U.S. counties of a cohort of international medical graduates (IMGs) (n=246,754) certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates between 1969 and 1982, and a matched group of U.S. medical graduates (USMGs). Analysis of counties grouped into categories of population size revealed disparities across certain U.S. census divisions. IMGs were distributed disproportionately in the West North Central and East South Central census divisions. The implications of the IMG presence in numerous rural counties is discussed from the perspective of recent policy proposals to reduce the number of IMGs in the United States.