AACOM Applauds Bipartisan Reintroduction of Community TEAMS Act

Bill would expand clinical training in rural and underserved communities

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Bethesda, MD) – The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) today commended U.S. Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Sam Graves (R-MO) and Troy Carter (D-LA) for the reintroduction of the Community Training, Education, and Access for Medical Students (Community TEAMS) Act. This bipartisan bill would establish a new grant program within the Health Resources and Services Administration to fund clinical rotations for medical students in rural and underserved areas.

“The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine applauds Representatives Miller, Veasey, Graves and Carter for reintroducing the Community TEAMS Act,” said Robert A. Cain, DO, president and CEO of AACOM. “We need more medical school rotations in rural communities, as students who train in these areas are nearly three times more likely to return and serve them as physicians. With 64 percent of colleges of osteopathic medicine requiring clinical rotations in rural and underserved areas, this bill is a vital step toward expanding rural training opportunities, strengthening the physician workforce and improving healthcare access in communities that need it most.”

“Americans in rural communities deserve the same quality of health care treatment as patients in more populated areas. The Community TEAMS Act gives medical students the ability to adapt to medical challenges that may arise while serving in rural communities and provides them with opportunities to practice medicine in the rural workforce. By training medical students in underserved areas of our country, we are laying the foundation for better health care in the U.S.," said Rep. Miller.

“In communities across the DFW area and throughout Texas, where many families rely on Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) for essential care, we need more medical professionals who are trained and ready to meet the needs of underserved populations,” said Rep. Veasey. “I am proud to help introduce the TEAMS Act, which will ensure that medical students gain the community-based training they need to serve communities like ours. By expanding medical training opportunities, we can improve health outcomes and make sure every patient, regardless of ZIP code or income, has access to high-quality care.”

“Being a doctor in a rural area provides a unique set of challenges. That’s why it’s critical our medical students have access to rural clinical settings, so they get the on the job training necessary to provide exceptional care to rural Americans. The Community Training, Education, Access for Medical Students Act does exactly that and I’m proud help introduce it," said Rep. Graves.

“I’m proud to reintroduce the bipartisan Community TEAMS Act because I’m committed to strengthening our healthcare workforce and ensuring access to quality care for every community. This bill will expand clinical training in rural and underserved areas—where care is essential and where students can make the greatest impact. By forging partnerships between medical schools and community-based clinics, we are addressing provider shortages and investing in a healthcare system that reflects the people it serves. This is how we build a stronger, more equitable future in healthcare,” said Rep. Carter.

More than 75 percent of medical schools report concerns about the availability of clinical training sites, particularly in primary care settings. The Community TEAMS Act would help address this shortage by supporting hands-on clinical training in the communities where doctors are needed most.

About AACOM:

Founded in 1898, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) is the leading voice for the education and training of physicians who practice osteopathic medicine in settings across the medical spectrum—from primary care to the full range of medical specialties. We support our member colleges of osteopathic medicine in their efforts to attract and train individuals who are fueled by a desire to make a difference in our healthcare system by treating the whole person and building a future emphasizing health and wellness for all people. Today, more than 38,000 future physicians—close to 30 percent of all U.S. medical students—are being educated at one of our 43 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine, encompassing 69 teaching locations in 36 states. To learn more about AACOM, please visit our website.

Contacts:

Joseph Shapiro
Director of Media Relations
(240) 938-0746
jshapiro@aacom.org

Christine DeCarlo
Senior Manager of Media and Public Affairs
(202) 603-1026
cdecarlo@aacom.org