Introduction and objective:
In the context of aging populations and urbanization, many European countries face the challenge of ensuring access to adequate medical services for all. The study focused on the impact of motivational factors on the career decisions of future doctors in the context of reducing medical deserts and working in depopulated areas. Career path choices made by medical students have a significant impact on the target distribution of medical workers in Poland in the long term, including the reduction of the phenomenon of medical deserts and the promotion of work in depopulation areas.

Material and methods:
For the purposes of this study, a conceptual research model was developed, including 3 stages: a literature review, a quantitative survey carried out among medical students at Warsaw Medical University, and a qualitative study with system experts. The results of the last stage are discussed in detail within this publication.

Results:
The study results were divided into 6 sections, which included: factors in choosing medical studies, motivations and influence on the specialization choice, the influence of activities undertaken during studies on further career choices, factors influencing the type and location of the future workplace.

Conclusions:
The results of the present study have shown that the decision to choose a career path among medical students is determined by a variety of factors that often change over time. In order to reverse trends in the career preferences of young medics, actions are needed on many levels, both during academic training and after postgraduate training.