Supporting International Medical Graduates in Rheumatology: A Call to Action

Improving Health Equity in Rheumatology Through Workforce Diversification and Support for Health Equity Research and Education

“…Continuing to admit and train more international medical graduates in rheumatology, constituting a substantial 26% of the rheumatology workforce in 2021, is one promising approach to address the ongoing shortage of URiM rheumatologists. 7 However, a more comprehensive national-level approach is needed to expand their numbers across the United States.…”

“…Although significant compared with numbers from other institutions, this rate of adding one additionally trained specialist per year to the total pool is insufficient for addressing the shortage of URiM rheumatologists in the United States. Continuing to admit and train more international medical graduates in rheumatology, constituting a substantial 26% of the rheumatology workforce in 2021, is one promising approach to address the ongoing shortage of URiM rheumatologists 7 . However, a more comprehensive national‐level approach is needed to expand their numbers across the United States.…”

Rheum at the Table for Everyone: A Call to Expand Rheumatology Knowledge for Primary Care Providers

“…A variety of strategies have been proposed to help address the critical rheumatology workforce shortage, including increasing the number of rheumatology training fellowship positions, decreasing barriers for URiM and international medical graduates to practice, 3,6 increasing the number of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in rheumatology, and retaining rheumatologists in the workforce by reducing burnout. 7 However, most of these strategies will take years to make a meaningful impact on the severe rheumatology workforce shortage.…”