The deans from several AAMC-member institutions met with Members of Congress and their staff on Sept. 18 to advocate for academic medicine priorities, including support for programs that help ensure a strong and robust health workforce. The meetings occurred ahead of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) 2025 annual Awards Gala.
While on Capitol Hill, the medical school deans highlighted the unique contributions of academic medicine to the patients and communities their institutions serve. They urged lawmakers to support the reauthorization of the Health Resources Services Administration Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs, which are set to expire at the end of the fiscal year [refer to Washington Highlights, Sept. 12]. The deans also requested support for the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 (H.R. 4731/S. 2439), bipartisan legislation that would add 14,000 new Medicare-supported graduate medical education positions [refer to Washington Highlights, June 13 and July 25]. Moreover, they urged lawmakers to support sustained, meaningful growth in the National Institutes of Health budget and provide the AAMC-led Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research-recommended funding level of at least $51.3 billion for the agency [refer to Washington Highlights, April 11].
Following the Hill visits, the deans attended the CHCI Annual Awards Gala, which convened members of Congress, industry leaders, advocates, and stakeholders to celebrate the contributions of the Latino community.
Pictured from left to right: Debbie Silva, MD, MEd, dean, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine; Art Gomez, MD, senior associate dean of medical education, Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine; Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD, dean, Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine; Olga Rodríguez de Arzola, MD, dean, Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine; Everardo Cobos, MD, interim dean, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine; Carmen Green, dean, CUNY S