AACOM Applauds Senate Reintroduction of Community TEAMS Act

Bipartisan, bicameral legislation expands clinical training capacity in rural and underserved communities

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Bethesda, MD) – The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) today commends U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Angus King (I-ME) for reintroducing the Community Training, Education, and Access for Medical Students (Community TEAMS) Act, S. 3989. This bipartisan bill establishes a new Health Resources and Services Administration grant program to increase clinical rotations for medical students in rural and medically underserved areas.

“AACOM applauds Senators Curtis and King for their leadership in expanding clinical training opportunities where they are needed most,” said AACOM President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. “Medical students who train in underserved communities are nearly three times more likely to remain there to practice. The Community TEAMS Act would strengthen the physician workforce while helping communities address persistent access-to-care challenges.”

“For many people in Maine, especially in rural parts of our state, accessing basic medical care can mean driving hours for an appointment,” said Senator King. “The Community TEAMS Act will help attract the next generation of health care workers from the ground up and improve access to care for families across Maine. That’s not just smart policy, that’s a people-first approach that will positively impact the health, safety, and economy of our state.”

“Too many rural communities in Utah and across the country struggle to recruit and retain physicians,” said Senator Curtis. “Our bipartisan legislation will help train the next generation of doctors while strengthening our rural health systems and improving families’ access to care.”

More than 75 percent of U.S. medical schools report concerns about the availability of clinical training sites. The Community TEAMS Act would help address this growing bottleneck by supporting partnerships between DO and MD medical schools and community-based healthcare facilities, where approximately 80 percent of patient care is delivered.

The Community TEAMS Act companion bill, H.R. 3885, was reintroduced on June 10, 2025, by U.S. Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Sam Graves (R-MO) and Troy Carter (D-LA). The legislation is supported by more than 50 national and state health organizations.

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 46 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine, encompassing 73 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