A new round of state grant funding totaling more than $2.9 million to support development of three new residency programs and eight new resident positions in current programs was awarded this week by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). The new round of grants builds upon over $22 million in new funding and matching private investment in graduate medical education (GME) enabled by the creation of the DHS Graduate Medical Education Program first established in the 2013-15 state budget and expanded in the 2017-19 state budget. Developed by and a key state budget priority for WHA, the previous awards from the program have created seven new residency programs on track to train at least 79 new residents in Wisconsin.
“It is rewarding to see the DHS grant program, a public policy solution created, championed and now grown by WHA, moving forward toward fulfillment of all of our mutual objectives of expanding GME in critical shortage areas,” said Eric Borgerding, WHA president/CEO. “WHA looks forward to continuing to work with our members, DHS, legislators and the governor as we pursue our standing agenda to expand GME in Wisconsin.”
DHS announced new three-year grants to support development of new GME programs at:
- Ascension St. Michael’s Hospital, Stevens Point – Family Medicine
- Health Sisters Health System (HSHS) St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center, Green Bay – Family Medicine
- The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee – Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship
Existing accredited GME programs receiving new funding for new resident positions for the length of the residency are:
- Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center Family Medicine Resident Training Program
- SSM Health Monroe Clinic Hospital Rural Family Medicine Resident Training Program
- The Medical College of Wisconsin Central Psychiatry Resident Training Program
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program
“Based on current data, we know that Wisconsin faces a significant physician shortage in the near future due to a number of factors, including an aging population, increases in chronic diseases and retiring physicians,” Gov. Scott Walker said. “Our investments in expansion of GME programs help ensure that we can meet this challenge. This year, we also increased our investments in addiction medicine and addiction psychiatry to address the opioid crisis by supporting new fellowships in these specialties.”
“DHS applauds the hard work demonstrated by these successful applicants, including creating partnerships with rural facilities for new clinical training opportunities,” DHS Secretary Linda Seemeyer said. “We know that this training coupled with residents who have prior or existing ties to Wisconsin significantly increases the likelihood that resident physicians will establish their practices in these or similar rural areas.”