Study analyzes distribution of oral health professionals in Georgia

Dr. Marshall Newman, professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and co-authors from the Medical College of Georgia recently published “Geographic Disparities in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Workforce: A Statewide Analysis of Georgia,” in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

The study provides the first statewide analysis of Georgia’s oral and maxillofacial surgery workforce, revealing significant disparities in access to specialty care between metropolitan and rural communities.
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The researchers found that more than 94 percent of Georgia’s oral and maxillofacial surgeons practice in metropolitan counties, while nearly 90 percent of nonmetropolitan counties have no oral and maxillofacial surgeon at all. The findings highlight the need for targeted workforce strategies, expanded training opportunities and innovative care delivery models to improve access to specialty surgical care for rural Georgians. This work advances understanding of healthcare access across Georgia and provides valuable data to help inform workforce planning and public health policy.