Experts say the traditional family doctor is slowly becoming a thing of the past as more medical school graduates are opting for specialties instead of family medicine.

Medical College of Georgia student Peggy Cavitt is eager to become a doctor. When she graduates next year she plans to go into family medicine.

“I like family medicine because I like people and I like complicated people,” said Cavitt.

Cavitt is one of only a few students out her graduating class of nearly 200 to make that decision. Some say it is a profession plagued with low pay, long hours and working with patients of all ages with multiple needs.

That has many of Cavitt's classmates opting for specialties that pay more and require less time at work.

MCG's Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Kathleen McKie says because of that shortage the few family doctors left have to pick up the load.

“Those areas that are remote and rural when a doctor is there that doctor is going be inundated with patients. A family medical doctor's day in those areas is going to be long and hard,” she said.

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration Georgia will need 259 doctors to avoid an official shortage.

Dr. Chris Gibbs of Urgent MD runs his own internal medicine practice. It's another area seeing fewer medical students. He says he uses physician assistants and other medical workers to help carry his 60 patient daily load.

“I like getting to know people, like to know the family situation it makes it easier to care for them over the long haul,” he said.

One of the ways Georgia hopes to keep family medicine doctors in the state is by reimbursing student loans.

Cavitt has racked up more than $140,000 in student loans. If she decides to practice medicine at an assigned location for three years in Georgia, the state will pick up her medical school tab.