Medical school deans and learners from several AAMC-member institutions met with members of Congress and their staff on Sep. 17, to advocate for academic medicine priorities, including support for programs that help to ensure a strong and well-trained physician and research workforce. The meetings occurred ahead of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) 49th Annual Awards Gala.
While on Capitol Hill, the deans and learners underscored their institutions’ unique contributions of academic medicine to the health of patients and communities by strengthening the health care and medical research workforce and improving access to care. They urged lawmakers to support continued and increased funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs in fiscal year (FY) 2027, as well as support the reauthorization of the programs, which expired at the end of FY 2025. The deans and learners also requested support for the bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 (H.R. 4731/S. 2439), which would gradually increase the number of Medicare-supported graduate medical education positions by 14,000 over seven years. Additionally, the group emphasized the challenges of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s (P.L. 119-21, PDF) new and aggregate loan limits, coupled with the elimination of Grad PLUS, and the importance of sustained, meaningful growth in the National Institutes of Health budget.
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.
- Washington Highlights