Thousands of health profession students and health care providers will celebrate the 10th Annual National Primary Care Week (NPCW), October 6-10, 2008. This year, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the nation's largest, independent medical student organization, and the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) will be working in conjunction with National Health Service Corps Ambassadors, local National Health Centers, health organizations and various professionals to highlight the importance of primary care.

According to a study in last month's Journal of the American Medical Association, only two percent of graduating medical students plan to become primary care internists.

NPCW hopes to improve health professional students' understanding of primary care, highlight the many career options in primary care, demonstrate the importance of collaboration between practitioners and their communities, encourage students to participate in community service events and introduce medical students to the political process.

Primary care providers act as the central point of contact for patients in the health care system, providing "a medical home," which has been shown to result in better care and reduced health care costs…