The Contributions Made and Challenges Faced By Foreign-Trained Physicians: A Conversation with Mr. Neal Simon (June 12th)

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Research published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) this past April estimated the US could see a shortage of up to 120,000 physicians by 2030.  AAMC estimates the shortage would be particularly acute in primary care, i.e., upwards of 50,000 primary care physicians would be needed.   The primary care shortage is already acute.  The federal Health Research and Services Administration (HRSA) estimates there are currently over 5,900 Primary Care Shortage Areas (PCSAs) in the US.  The current and future physician shortage would be dramatically worse if not for the approximately 250,000 foreign-trained physicians currently practicing in the US, a disproportionate percent of whom are primary care practitioners and work in under-served communities.  Despite the critical role these physicians play (and the quality of care they provide), foreign-trained medical school graduates face substantial barriers, particularly under the current administration, in obtaining residencies, qualifying academically to train and practice in the US, and in obtaining requisite visas.    

During this 25 minute conversation Mr. Simon discusses, in part, AUA's programming and student demographics, the contribution foreign-trained students make in the US health care market, again, particularly in primary care and in under-served areas, and the barriers foreign-trained students, moreover foreign-trained and non-US citizens, face in obtaining medical residencies and licensing, moreover in obtaining visas,  in order to train and practice in the US. 

Mr. Neal Simon is the President and C0-Founder of American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine.  After graduating from New York School of Law in 1978 Mr. Simon worked as Assistant Counsel at the New York Department of Education and worked as well in private practice specializing in medical licensure.  He taught at the Ross University College of Medicine in the 1990s and served as President of the Ross University from 1992 to 2003.  Mr. Simon has been recognized for his work in medical education by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin and by Sungshin Women's University.  Mr. Simon has served as Ambassador at Large for Antigua and Barbuda and is presently serving on the advisory board at Florida International University and at Manipal University.

For information on AUA's College of Medicine go to: https://www.auamed.org/.

The report by the American Immigration Council's "Foreign-Trained Doctors Are Critical to Serving Many US Communities," noted during this podcast is at: https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/foreign-trained-doctors-are-critical-serving-many-us-communities.  

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