JAMA Medical News October 2025 Medical News Summary
9 snips
Oct 31, 2025 Rita Rubin, a seasoned journalist covering health policy, discusses the new state laws aimed at easing pathways for internationally trained physicians to practice in underserved areas. She highlights the challenges they face, including licensing barriers and reluctance to repeat U.S. residencies. Meanwhile, Samantha Anderer dives into groundbreaking research linking the oral microbiome to pancreatic cancer risk, explaining how specific bacteria might influence this deadly disease and the potential for microbial risk scores in early screening.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
New State Pathways Are Limited So Far
- Eighteen states created alternative licensure pathways for internationally trained physicians to work in underserved areas.
- Few physicians have used these pathways so far, raising doubts about their immediate impact.
Waived Residency Still Requires Supervision
- The new laws waive the U.S. residency requirement but still require supervised practice and exams.
- States vary, often requiring at least two years of supervised work before full licensure.
Immigration Policy Is A Major Barrier
- Immigration policy changes could block internationally trained physicians unless they secure family-based green cards.
- Legal and visa barriers remain a major obstacle beyond state licensure rules.