Health Affairs Article Highlights Effectiveness of THCGME and Rural Development Programs
Published May 19, 2025
By AACOM Government Relations
Federal Policy
OME Advocate
- A recent Health Affairs study reveals a significant expansion in graduate medical education (GME) programs in rural areas and at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) from 2008 to 2024, crediting federal initiatives aimed at addressing physician shortages in underserved communities.
- The study reports an increase in residency programs incorporating rural training sites from 120 in 2008–09 to 412 in 2023–24, an increase from 6.18 percent to 14.34 percent of all programs. Similarly, GME programs with FQHC training sites grew from 69 to 321 during the same period, accounting for 11.17 percent of all residency programs by 2023–24.
- Federal programs like the Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) program and the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program play a critical role in expanding rural and community-based training, as 21.6 percent of rural residencies are supported by the RRPD and 28 percent of FQHC-based residencies are funded through THCGME.
- The study also found that rural-trained residents are at least twice as likely to remain and practice in rural areas and that 56 percent of residents trained in community-based settings such as FQHCs go on to serve in medically underserved areas, compared to just 25.1 percent of the overall U.S. residency graduate population.
- These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of THCGME and other rural development programs in bolstering the healthcare workforce. With nationwide physician shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas, the OME community’s commitment to community-based training is more pertinent than ever.
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