Government Research

Note about how MDs & MD/PhDs are defined in this workforce box:

Physicians that may be working in "Government Research" was not a separate category in the data book AMA Physician Characteristics and Distribution in the US, 2012 Edition. Thus, this data was pulled from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). They may and may not be conducting research.

Data:

OPM hires civilian MDs under the Medical Officer Series, 0602: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/IORs/gs0600/0602.htm

Permanent federal employees hired under the 0602 Medical Officer Series from Cabinet Level Agencies:

*current for December 2011.



Data pulled from FedScope http://www.fedscope.opm.gov/, April 2012. Department of Health and Human Services further broken out.

Summary:

• Estimate of total physicians in the workforce from AMA: Total MDs, Ages <35-65 = 727,525
• Estimate of total physicians from combined sources identified by the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director BMW: 827,658
• MD and MD/PhDs employed in Government Research Occupations account for 2.7% of the MD and MD/PhD workforce.