Engagement & Resources

Reminder: Earmark Deadlines Approaching; COMs, Submit Your Requests: As Congress turns to funding for FY27, COMs are encouraged to submit Community Project Funding (CPF) requests in the House and Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) requests in the Senate. These requests (aka earmarks) can support healthcare, education and other allowable investments subject to the guidelines provided by the House and Senate. Contact your House and Senate member offices for participation and eligibility requirements and deadlines. Please note that a submitted request does not guarantee funding.

Final Round of GME Section 126 Slot Distribution: Applications are open for the final round of 200 Medicare-supported graduate medical education (GME) positions under Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which will complete the distribution of 1,000 new GME positions. Eligible hospitals include rural designated hospitals, hospitals in states with new medical schools, hospitals over their GME cap and hospitals in health professional shortage areas. GME slots are awarded based on prioritization via health professional shortage area (HPSA) scores with remaining slots allocated to hospitals with the greatest workforce needs. Applications are due March 31, 2026. Learn more.

Students and Leadership Visit Statehouse for ‘ICOM Day at the Capitol’: Leaders and students from the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) spent the day at the Idaho State Capitol for the annual “ICOM Day at the Capitol,” an opportunity to share the mission, impact and needs of the state’s future physicians directly with lawmakers. A highlight of the day included a visit with Governor Brad Little in the Ceremonial Office, where students had the chance to share their experiences, career goals and passion for serving Idaho communities. The group also met with House Speaker Mike Moyle on the House floor for a discussion about the state’s growing medical needs and the role osteopathic physicians play in meeting them.

Join Us at Educating Leaders 2026: The AACOM Annual Conference will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from April 22-24, 2026. Our conference is the premier gathering for leaders, educators, staff and students from osteopathic medical colleges across the United States. Government relations sessions will cover how rising costs, regulatory developments and evolving federal policies are affecting osteopathic medical students and institutions. For more information and to see the full conference line-up, visit our Educating Leaders home page.

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program Accepting Applications: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provides the NHSC scholarship for students pursuing primary care health professions training in eligible disciplines who agree to serve a minimum two years of service at an NHSC-approved site in a HPSA. The scholarship covers tuition and eligible fees, a monthly stipend for living expenses and an annual payment to cover other reasonable educational costs. Applications are open through April 16, 2026, at 7:30 PM ET. Learn more.

NIH Strategic Plan 2027–2031 - Public Webinar and Request for Information (RFI): Leadership at NIH will host a webinar, open to the public, on April 8, 2026, regarding the agency’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2027–2031. Presenters will introduce a framework for the plan, outline how it’s developed and answer attendees’ questions. Register here. NIH also issued an RFI to solicit feedback from the medical and research communities and the general public regarding the framework for the strategic plan. Responses are due at 11:59 PM ET on May 16, 2026. Learn more.