An accelerated medical program at a Florida-based university has been awarded a $2.2 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.

The Palm Beach Post reports that funds will help the college develop a program that allows students to receive a master's degree in public health and a medical license (MD) in four years. The school said that the expedited track is part of an effort to ease the nationwide shortage of trained doctors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment opportunities for physicians and surgeons will increase by as much as 22 percent over the next decade. The bureau cites the continued expansion of healthcare-related industries and an aging population as primary factors for growth.

According to the most recent data compiled by the BLS, approximately 12 percent of physicians and surgeons are self-employed. About 53 percent of employees in this field work in offices, with 19 percent in hospitals. Others practice in government, educational and outpatient organizations.

Many online colleges offer flexible classes in this field to accommodate individuals with other responsibilities.