July 1 is one of the most important dates on the American healthcare calendar.
It is the day thousands of newly matched resident physicians report to hospitals and clinics across the country, joining care teams on which millions of patients depend.
This year, however, hospitals are confronting an unexpected challenge. International medical graduates (IMGs) who already matched into accredited U.S. residency programs are encountering visa delays that could prevent them from arriving in time to begin training.
With residency programs set to begin in just days, the AMA has been urging federal officials to act quickly and expedite the processing of these visas.
The stakes extend far beyond the physicians themselves. Hospitals count on them. Patients count on them. At a time when communities across the country face persistent physician shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas, America cannot afford to leave qualified physicians in limbo or on the sidelines.
Over the past several weeks, the AMA has learned of a growing number of visa delays and refusals involving IMGs. In some cases, these issues appear tied to prior visits to the United States for observerships, residency interviews, conferences and other educational experiences that accelerate their integration into the American healthcare system and have long been recognized as a normal part of preparing for residency training.
These physicians have participated in educational opportunities designed to help them understand the U.S. healthcare system and compete for residency positions. Those experiences should not become barriers that prevent them from beginning the training programs that are so vital to public health.
The urgency is clear. The Match has already occurred. Residency programs filled their positions and are preparing for the arrival of new physicians to fill critical roles. If visa delays prevent these doctors from starting on time, hospitals will face staffing challenges, training programs will be disrupted, and patients will undoubtedly experience the consequences.
International medical graduates are essential to America's physician workforce. They account for roughly one-quarter of practicing physicians in the United States and nearly one-third of internal medicine residents. At a time when more than 38,000 additional practitioners are needed to eliminate existing health professional shortage areas, their contributions are critical.
Many IMGs choose to serve where the need is greatest; nearly two-thirds practice in medically underserved communities or Health Professional Shortage Areas, and nearly half of those work in rural areas where access to care is often hardest to find.
My family’s story
I understand the contributions of immigrant physicians firsthand.
My parents emigrated from India to Flint, Michigan, in the early 1970s to practice medicine. My father was a radiologist. My mother was a pediatrician. They spent their careers caring for patients in our community and helping meet a critical need for physician services.
Their story reflects a larger truth. For generations, immigrant physicians have strengthened communities, expanded access to care, and helped sustain the American healthcare system. The physicians awaiting visa approvals today represent the next generation of that service.
No one is suggesting that visa requirements or security reviews be bypassed. The existing J-1 physician program already includes extensive oversight and screening. The issue is whether qualified physicians, who already met rigorous standards, can begin training on time.
America's physician shortage is not a future challenge—it affects care today. Every physician delayed is one less doctor available to care for patients in communities already facing too many barriers to care.
On July 1, hospitals across the country expect a new class of physicians to begin serving patients. Those doctors have done everything asked of them. They earned their place through a competitive process and stand ready to begin training.
Now it is up to us to ensure unnecessary visa delays do not stand in their way—or in the way of the patients counting on them.
