Close to 50 million Americans lack access to primary health care because of physician shortages. One of the most effective pipelines for primary care physicians may lose funding as of May 22 unless Congress votes to extend funding for the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program.
I am the program director (and a graduate) of the Northwestern McGaw Family Medicine Residency Humboldt Park, located at Erie Family Health Center in Humboldt Park. It is one of 56 Teaching Health Centers in the nation and the only one in Illinois. The federal THCGME supports primary care residency programs in community-based, ambulatory patient care settings rather than in hospitals.
Family physicians like me deliver babies, prevent and treat chronic and acute diseases, and aid seniors through the end of life. I also teach future doctors with a passion to care for the underserved, helping them master the clinical skills to provide comprehensive, culturally sensitive care.
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Motivated by the belief that health care is a human right, we train our residents to provide high-quality, affordable care. The residents provide nearly 16,000 patient visits annually in our clinic and serve patients at Swedish Hospital on the North Side.
We received more than 900 applications for our eight positions in this year’s physician match. More than 75% of our residents continue working in medically underserved communities.
Studies show that access to primary care lowers overall health care costs, increases the use of preventive services and lowers disease and death rates, especially where income inequality is greatest. We have evidence that Teaching Health Centers are a good investment.
We urge Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, and all our Illinois representatives, to support legislation to extend funding for five years and work with Congressional leadership to solidify the future of Teaching Health Centers like ours.
Sanina Wheat, MD, Humboldt Park
Wanted: New leader for Animal Care and Control
A compassionate, passionate and experienced administrator is needed to be the director of the Chicago Animal Care and Control Department. Chicago is recognized as a humane big city with countless thousands of residents who love dogs, cats, rabbits and other companion animals.
For that matter, PAWS Chicago is nationally admired for its incredible dedication to finding quality guardians for canines and felines. If Chicago is still the city that works, it will hire a talented and conscientious leader to benevolently be at the helm of Chicago Animal Care and Control.
Brien Comerford, Glenview
