Dr. Jennifer Green enjoys a happy balance of treating her patients at Family Physicians of Englewood and spending time with her young family, which includes three sons 7 and younger.

"I enjoy people, I like what I do, but I like my family time, too. To me it's the best of both worlds," said Green, 34, a West Carrollton native and graduate of Wright State University's medical school.

In one sense, Green is the face of future physicians in America. More women are entering the profession, studies show, and they want to balance their careers with family life. But she could be an endangered species.

Several reports in recent months have predicted there will be a physician shortage in the United States in the next 10 to 15 years, particularly in primary care fields, such as family medicine and geriatrics. Estimates of the potential shortage range between 85,000 and 200,000 doctors nationwide by the year 2020.

A number of factors are at play — lifestyle issues, rising practice expenses, lower reimbursements from insurance companies — but the bottom line is the number of physicians won't be able to keep up with a population that is both growing and aging.

Exploring the issue is the task of the Ohio Physician Supply & Demand Consultation, a group of doctors, academics and other health care experts convened last fall by the Ohio Board of Regents. The group next meets on Feb. 5 in Columbus.

Dr. Howard Part, dean of Wright State's Boonshoft School of Medicine, said a shortage isn't a certainty, but it's a distinct possibility that threatens the health care system as we know it.

"We may find ourselves 10 years from now where access to care is dramatically affected," Part said.