Preparing Healthcare Talent for an AI-Powered Practice

While Mexico’s medical schools graduate thousands every year, the country does not have enough doctors to meet the needs of its population. This shortage of skilled healthcare professionals leads to longer wait times, delayed treatments, and higher costs, eventually overburdening systems. Filling the gap in medical professionals requires a new approach. While AI has been touted as a tool to support clinical practices, it could also play a role in enhancing medical education, experts say.

As AI transforms healthcare across the world, Mexico faces a critical challenge: bridging the gap between traditional medical education and the skills required for the modern, technology-driven practice, says Carla Calderón, Head of the Health and Life Sciences Practice, Baker McKenzie Mexico. 

Healthcare education in Mexico exists within a complex ecosystem, where universities and clinical environments must balance patient care with the training of future professionals. However, despite these efforts, structural challenges persist within the country’s medical workforce. In 2023, the country had nearly 666,000 medical professionals, with about 17,500 new doctors and 12,500 specialists entering the field annually. Yet, only about 2.5 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants are actively practicing, placing Mexico in the lower quartile among OECD countries. 

Furthermore, the number of specialists being trained falls short of demand, says Héctor Orellana, Vice President for North Latin America, Medtronic. “We train between 1,800 and 2,000 physicians per year in some specialties, and it is probably not enough,” says Orellana. “There has to be a general alignment in education to truly improve people’s lives. We must constantly intervene to remain at the forefront and enhance the patient experience. Training has to happen within companies and hospitals.”

This limited availability of active practitioners and educators directly contributes to a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals, which has tangible consequences. Patient care is affected through longer wait times and delayed treatments, while marginalized communities face heightened disparities in access to quality care, reports Adecco. Hospitals incur higher costs due to reliance on temporary staff and overtime, and overburdened systems struggle to implement new technologies and innovate in care delivery.

“A recent graduate has to walk a tightrope without the safety net of real-world preparation,” says Manuel Ferrero, Partner for Healthcare and Life Sciences, Page Executive. “Aligning expectations is key to closing the gap. In medical school, students are not trained to manage a company, lead a team, or build a budget, yet those skills are increasingly necessary.”

AI offers a pathway to address these gaps. From enhancing diagnostics and preventive care to enabling remote surgeries, AI holds transformative potential. To realize this potential, healthcare professionals need early exposure to AI during their training and curricula must change to include digital health from the start, says Mauricio Peón, Technology Director, Medu.

“There should be modules on AI, digital innovation, and simulations early in medical education,” says Peón. “With these tools, professionals will have a better foundation to enter the industry. We must take a multidisciplinary approach, including social work, nursing, and administration, so healthcare services have all the necessary perspectives. Just as algorithms are constantly trained, so must our professionals be.”

Mexico allocates a smaller percentage of GDP to health compared to OECD members, making collaboration between the private and public healthcare sectors essential, says Ferrero. “Partnerships can be fostered through programs, but what is really needed is a public policy agenda that responds to people’s needs,” he adds.

Paradoxically, new doctors also face limited opportunities, says Peón. “In 2024, only 41% of graduates secured placements,” he adds. “We must train better-prepared physicians who can contribute real value to Mexican institutions. A wave of opportunities is coming with digital tools, but preparation will be decisive.”

“The real issue is not whether patients exist, but whether we are ready to treat them,” Orellana says. “Talent remains the cornerstone, and we must ensure tools are used ethically to develop better healthcare professionals.”