The United States is grappling with a significant physician shortage in 2025, a challenge that will profoundly shape the experiences of today’s premeds, medical students, and early-career doctors. Recent data paint a sobering picture: the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects a shortfall of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036 under current trends aamc.org. This gap is especially acute in primary care, where demand for services far outstrips supply.

Dating anyone has its share of challenges, but loving a doctor or future doctor brings a unique mix of rewards and stresses. Doctors-in-training and physicians juggle life-and-death responsibility with long hours, demanding education, and sometimes unpredictable schedules. Whether you’re dating a medical student cramming for boards, a resident working 24-hour shifts, or an attending physician on call at odd hours, the realities can be surprisingly stark.