Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced $9 million in awards to support 15 preventive medicine residency programs at accredited schools of public health, schools of medicine and hospitals.
Nearly $6.7 million of the funds is part of the $200 million appropriated to HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to address the nation’s healthcare workforce shortages.
HRSA’s Preventive Medicine Residency Program provides support to plan and develop new residency programs, maintain, improve and expand existing programs and provide financial support to residency trainees in the programs. The new funds will provide financial support to approximately 56 residents.
“Preventive medicine physicians have training in both clinical medicine and public health, giving them a unique understanding of how to reduce the risks of disease and disability for the increasing number of people in need,” said Sebelius.
More than 180 preventive medicine residents will receive training over the next three years in a variety of public health settings, including state, local and tribal public health departments, hospitals, community health centers, industrial sites, occupational health centers and academic centers.
“These residency programs are extremely important in our continuing efforts to seek ways to address public health needs and improve the overall health of the nation,” said HRSA Administrator Mary K. Wakefield.
Preventive medicine includes three areas of specialty: general preventive medicine and public health, aerospace medicine and occupational medicine.
The lists of awards from HRSA’s 2010 appropriation are can be found here.
HRSA is the primary federal agency responsible for improving access to healthcare services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.