In 2017, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. My odds of surviving five years were just 6%, but thanks to my care team and highly trained specialists, I received years of state-of-the-art care and was declared cancer-free in 2023. What made that possible was a health care system built upon graduate medical education (GME), the structured, hands-on residency training that equips doctors to treat the most complex and serious conditions. Every primary care and specialist physician who helped save my life completed a rigorous GME program.
Without that pathway, I simply wouldn't be here.
Today, that pathway is under pressure. The country is facing a persistent and growing physician shortage driven by an aging population, rising rates of chronic illness, and the lasting effects of burnout and workforce disruption. Aside from two AAMC-led advocacy efforts to provide 1,200 new Medicare-supported residency slots, the number of available residency positions has remained effectively frozen since 1997.
Congress has a chance to fix that. The bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 (S. 2439/H.R. 4731) would add 14,000 new Medicare-supported GME positions over the next seven years. It's a responsible, smart, and necessary step toward expanding access to care, especially in the communities that need it most.
I recently shared my story to help make the stakes of this issue real. And I know I'm not the only one with a story. If you or someone you love has been helped by a physician's training, I encourage you to share that experience, too.
Our stories matter. They help policymakers and the public understand that GME isn't just about education or money - it's about access, survival, and the future of health care in this country. Now's the time to raise our voices and make sure every patient has access to the care they deserve.
| AAMC |
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| When the doctor shortage is personal |
| Eight years after surviving a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, the author urges Congress to pass legislation to help fund training for more doctors. |
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Len Marquez
Senior Director, Government Relations
Association of American Medical Colleges
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