Congressional reps save program to train and retain valley physicians

For valley residents, an essential element of any health care reform must be having more physicians. Unfortunately, this critical issue has gotten scant attention in the heated national debate.

In a speech to the American Medical Association two months ago, President Barack Obama called for more funds for a program that helps doctors repay medical school loans if they serve in rural areas.

That's all good and well, but what the United States — and especially our region — really needs is to train more doctors.

The physician shortage has been getting attention in a perverse way lately. Some people are arguing that a major drawback — or risk — of extending insurance coverage to the millions of uninsured Americans is that there won't be enough physicians and other medical providers to treat them.

In our valley, that isn't some far-fetched possibility, but a current and sad reality. But the solution isn't to tell people they can't get ill or to keep them uninsured. Rather, it's to increase the number of doctors.

Valley medical groups find it tough, and in some specialities nearly impossible, to recruit physicians, so the better answer is to grow our own.

That's why we're such strong supporters of the proposed medical school at the University of California at Merced.

And that's why it's essential that Stanislaus County retain its residency program — the on-the-job training for new medical school graduates.

Seventy of the program's graduates have stayed on in the community to practice. Without this pipeline, our physician shortage would be even worse.

This past week brought the welcome news that a federal agency that had abruptly withdrawn funding for the residency program has indicated it will fund a remodeled program that is already in the works.

It appears there will be no disruption to the physicians currently in the program. And the program will be able to keep its very capable director, Dr. Peter Broderick, and its faculty.

We appreciate the efforts of Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, who made this a high priority and used his growing influence to make it happen, and the efforts of Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, and Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, who also pushed for the reconsideration.