The state of Kansas enjoys a reputation as being a place that focuses on the health and wellness of its citizens. However, the need for qualified and skilled physicians in this state continues to grow. Specialty doctors like pulmonologists have a broad choice of where they can work in the state. In fact, rural areas of the state, particularly those in the western Kansas towns of Goodland, Hays, Colby, and Dodge City, frequently experience shortages in these kinds of professionals. Indeed, pulmonology in Kansas continues to be an area of healthcare that continuously seeks skilled doctors to fill the need of the state's people.

When most people think of Kansas, they imagine the wide open spaces and the clean air. It may be difficult to imagine that people in the state may suffer from respiratory conditions like asthma, COPD, emphysema, and pulmonary fibrosis. However, particularly among the older citizens, these diseases strike large numbers of the state's residents. Many individuals work in farming, manufacturing, oil drilling, and other industries that are not conducive to pulmonary health. These workers are routinely exposed to asbestos, ammonia, chlorine, and other harsh chemicals that erode the lining of their lungs. As they age, they develop these ailments and must seek the care of a pulmonary physician, who often prescribes medications and lifestyle changes to prolong these people's lives.

However, if they happen to live in a sparsely populated area, they must travel to the nearest medical center that employs one of these professionals. People in Goodland and Colby, in particular, must await the arrival of doctors from Denver, Colorado, who travel to western Kansas and treat the people in these and other surrounding small towns. Even people in larger cities, like Hays and Topeka, on occasion experience the interruption of care when their doctor leaves for a bigger market. Despite the state's possessing a highly skilled medical university, the University of Kansas, the state routinely suffers a lack of skilled doctors, especially those who practice in specialty fields such as pulmonology.

As such, Kansas offers incentives to medical school graduates who choose to establish careers in the state. Those who take jobs in rural hospitals may become eligible to have the state pay off their student loans, particularly if they remain at that location for five years or longer. They may receive large recruitment bonuses from both Kansas and the medical facility as well. These incentives are designed, and have proven successful, at keeping medical staff at hospitals, medical clinics, and offices around the state.