Latest news with #AAMC
Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Uncertain about future, say doctors, staff of Mohalla Clinics; hold sit-in at Delhi Secretariat
At least 580 doctors and staff, who worked at Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) flagship Mohalla Clinics, on Monday held a silent protest outside the Delhi Secretariat and sought clarity on whether they can continue to work at Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandir. The public healthcare centres were rebranded by the BJP after it came to power in February. In an interview with The Indian Express last week, Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh, amid prevailing concerns among the staff of the Mohalla Clinics, had said, 'We have staff in the Arogya Mandirs, which are ready for the launch, but we are planning to absorb the existing staff of Mohalla clinics. I have discussed this with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. They will have to reappear in an exam, and those who fulfil the criteria will get the jobs.' On Monday, as the Mohalla clinics remained shut, the doctors and staff held a sit-in outside the Delhi Secretariat till evening, saying they were uncertain about their future. The written orders from officials have contradicted the CM's assurances at her Jan sunwai camps that the staff will be absorbed at Arogya Mandirs, they claimed. Officials concerned could not be reached for a response on the latest demonstration. 'Even the Health Minister said that those who fit the criteria under the National Health Mission will be hired…Some of the staff members have also been asked to sit at home while permanent employees from various hospitals have been transferred to their clinics,' said Jitendra Kumar, president of the Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics (AAMC) union. Some doctors and staff members were called inside the Delhi Secretariat, where they met Health Minister's OSD Vaibhav Rikhari, and they submitted a memorandum, he added. The doctors said that they had cleared the examination of the Delhi government, after which they were selected for the Mohalla Clinics, where they have been working for the last eight years. They said that all the staff at Mohalla clinics should be transferred to Ayushman Arogya Mandir without any service disruption. 'Following the Assembly elections earlier this year, the staff have not been given salaries. Recently, an MOU (memorandum of understanding) of conditional extension of a maximum of one year or earlier was provided,' read the memorandum submitted by the doctors. They said minutes of the meeting, dated April 17, signed by the Health Minister and the Special Secretary, are cause for concern. 'Our problems are linked to the process of shifting from Delhi State Health Mission (DSHM) to National Rural Health Mission, fear of new eligibility criteria, and no clear-cut document for the smooth shifting of 100% of doctors and staff. The government, on one end, keeps its staff happy by paying them regular increments and promotions and dearness allowance… but on the other end, inhuman treatment is meted out to contractual professional staff of AAMC. After working for over eight years in AAMC, without any increment, we are on the verge of termination of our services at one stroke. Our OPD, linked to remuneration, is jeopardised by poor supply of drugs,' it further added.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
DEI dropped: Medical schools won't be graded on diversity amid federal, state crackdown
Citing state crackdowns on diversity, equity and inclusion, the organization that accredits medical schools has dropped diversity as a measure of the quality of medical education. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education on May 19 voted to eliminate diversity programs and partnerships as criteria when it grades the performance of medical schools that confer "MD" degrees to students. The liaison committee said it acted because new and proposed state laws targeting diversity, equity and inclusion conflict with the accrediting body's standards. Eliminating diversity standards would create "a single set of accreditation expectations with which all schools, regardless of their location and current legislative environment, must comply," the liaison committee said in a statement. A liaison committee spokesperson said the committee made the decision after "thoughtful and careful consideration and discussion." Its two sponsoring organizations, the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association, did not answer questions from USA TODAY. The decision to target diversity is a setback in efforts to attract medical students of all backgrounds, said doctors who have worked to promote diversity. Dr. Virginia Caine, an Indiana University professor of medicine, said it's important for doctors to connect and communicate with different cultures. "We're just dumbfounded by this decision made by LCME," said Caine, who serves as president of the National Medical Association, which represents Black physicians. Caine said studies have shown that Black patients experience better health outcomes and engage more effectively when treated by Black physicians. "We have such a rich and incredible history of talented Black physicians," said Caine, the public health department director of Marion County, Indiana. "If we knock out the access before they even are entering medical schools or academic schools, we're just going to be a nation that's not as creative, not as innovative and not as successful." About 5.2% of the nation's doctors in 2022 identified as Black, according to a physician workforce report by the Association of American Medical Colleges. That's an improvement since 2019 when 2.6% of physicians identified as Black. Still, the share of Black doctors still doesn't match the 13.7% in the overall population. About 6.3% of physicians in 2022 identified as Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin, which also significantly trails the overall population. More than a half dozen states have enacted laws placing restrictions on diversity efforts at state institutions such as colleges and universities. Florida, for example, prohibits state institutions from giving preferential consideration for employment, admission, or promotion. And after taking office for his second term, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the federal government and affirmative action in federal contracting. To reflect its turn away from enforcing diversity standards at medical schools, the liaison committee said it's updating guidance for academic years 2025-26 and 2026-27. The liaison committee assigns survey teams to assess medical schools on a dozen standards for items such as leadership, curriculum, faculty and medical student selection, support and services. Schools that previously got diversity-related citations − or those preparing for accreditation − won't have to provide information on their diversity efforts, the liaison committee said. The National Medical Association said the federal and state efforts to cut diversity, equity and inclusion is limiting access to medical education for the next generation of Black physicians. Caine said the nation already has a physician shortage projected to worsen within 5 years when about 1 in 3 practicing physicians will reach retirement age. "It's important for everybody," Caine said. All medical students "should have the ability to connect, to be open, to communicate with your patients. To do that, you have to have some level of understanding related to that culture." Dr. Osose Oboh knows how important it is to reduce bias and improve trust with patients. Oboh graduated medical school from Michigan State University and completed an internal medicine residency at Johns Hopkins University. She now is completing a gastroenterology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Oboh said the federal and state crackdown on DEI - and the liaison committee's response - is "disheartening." "There is an attack on something that is actually good," Oboh said. "Diversity has been rebranded as giving unqualified folks opportunity, when in reality, it's increasing exposure to qualified people." She said bias in a medical setting can surface both among patients and doctors. Oboh, who is Black, said she recently gave "bad news" to a Black patient's family. She explained the diagnoses and next steps the medical team planned to take. "They were so appreciative to receive it from me," Oboh said. "They understood why we were taking the steps we're taking and why we were going to do the interventions we were going to do. They felt like nobody else had explained it to them." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DEI at medical schools won't be won't be graded
Forbes
16-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
How Myths About Alpha Males Can Contribute To Young Men Falling Behind
Picture of a Young Man In 2025, the New York Times released a report indicating that young men and boys are falling behind on key factors within education, mental health, and transitioning into adulthood. According to this report, young men are outnumbered in college enrollment, have significantly higher rates of completed suicides, and take longer to reach adult milestones such as leaving the family home. There's consensus that being male isn't the problem, but that a major contributing factor is how society, including health care providers, view males. A 2023 report on the website for the Association of American Medical Colleges stated that though males die by suicide at a rate four times higher than woman, men are given formal diagnoses of depression and mood disorders at a significant lower rate than women. This report also argued that society tends to blame men for their struggles, which often leads to unhealthy attitudes and perceptions about being a man. These unhealthy attitudes and perceptions can lead to unhealthy coping and decreased help-seeking for many men, which could negatively impact their mental health. Having an accurate understanding of concepts regarding male identity is vital for many emerging adults. A 2022 study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology argued that gender identity affects self-image. A 2024 article on a global platform of articles written by academic experts, described the impact of dating apps on modern masculinity. Furthermore, as discussed in a 2022 report by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, there's concern about the impact of toxic masculinity. Male identity is a multi-faceted construct, but the concept of 'alpha male' has garnered mainstream attention, even though the alpha male theory has been debunked and overlooks fundamental aspects of the human experience. The "alpha male" theory largely originated from David Mech's work on studying the behavior of wolf packs. According to a 2022 report on an 'alpha wolf' was originally thought to be a male who competed with other wolves to become the leader of the pack. The concept of being an alpha has been applied to human behavior by suggesting a high value for those who can intimate others through dominance, have aggressive personalities, and behave in ways that impose their will onto others. Convincing young men to become an alpha has become a part of mainstream industries. An example is a 2015 post on which listed described tips regarding how young men can become an alpha male. A 2016 report on Business Insider is another example, in which comments from politicians about grabbing women without consent was described as 'two alpha guys in a thing.' The presence of the alpha male theory in mainstream media suggests that many individuals do not realize that this theory has been debunked. A 2023 report on highlighted how even David Mech rebutted the original theory. According to this report, wolf packs are mainly families who are led by a breeding pair as opposed to a dominate male. This report highlighted how the observations which contributed to the alpha male theory were based on wolves in captivity, in which there were no adult shared kinship. Thus, these wolves started behaving in ways similar to how humans typically behave in a prison in order to establish a dominate hierarchy. This report further suggested that when wolves are in their natural habitat, infighting for dominance, as well as general family conflict, is basically unheard of. The report on discussed the concept of alpha male as a myth. If so, the translation of the original observations of wolf packs to human behaviors has been a misapplication. An accurate application would suggest that natural leaders of the pack are those who can maintain strong attachment bonds, work effectively in a partnership, generally avoid conflict, strive to be a good provider, and foster security. It's easy to imagine the impact on many emerging adults, and most of society, if these qualities were highly valued as being a true alpha.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Republicans' proposed Medicaid cuts met with dismay
The Trump Administration in the US has introduced legislation outlining plans for deep cuts and limitations to Medicaid, which observers warn could impact millions of America's most vulnerable citizens over the next decade. The budget reconciliation bill, released late on 11 May by the US Committee on Energy and Commerce, estimates that proposed cuts to the health insurance programme will save the federal government around $900bn over the next decade. Set for a debate in a committee hearing on 13 May, the proposed amendments to Medicaid include new work requirements for claimants. Observers warn these changes could inadvertently kick qualified claimants off the programme due to increased administrative hurdles, stricter eligibility checks, and a ban on using Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for minors. By analysing policy options previously touted by Republicans to reduce Medicaid funding, non-partisan think tank the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the latest proposals could cut the number of people eligible for coverage by around 8.6 million over the next decade and result in up to 13.7 milllion Americans losing their health insurance by 2034. Commenting on the bill, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) expressed "deep concern" over the proposed plans, stating that they would ultimately limit coverage and access to care for 'many of the over 70 million Americans – specifically children, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those in rural and underserved communities – who rely on Medicaid for health care coverage'. The AAMC continued: 'As the committee considers its budget reconciliation bill, it is imperative that policymakers prioritise the health of all Americans and soundly reject policies that would specifically lead to the loss of health care coverage for 8.6 million people and undermine the financial stability of safety-net providers.' The planned funding cuts also touch on Planned Parenthood, a US nonprofit that provides services such as sexual and reproductive healthcare, primary care, and cancer screenings. Patty Murray, Democratic senator for Washington, said that defunding Planned Parenthood would amount to 'defunding basic healthcare'. 'Defunding Planned Parenthood means ripping away millions of people's ability to get cancer screenings, birth control, and lifesaving reproductive health care,' Murray wrote. 'Despite what Republicans try to claim, women cannot just 'go somewhere else' if Planned Parenthood shuts down – Planned Parenthood provides care to more than two million people every single year and for many people, those centres are their only source of healthcare.' Calling the overall plans 'politically suicidal' in an op-ed for the New York Times, Josh Hawley, Republican senator for Missouri, pointed out that 21% of Missourians benefit from Medicaid or CHIP, an associated insurance programme for lower-income children, with many of the state's rural hospitals and health providers reliant on the programmes' funding to 'keep their doors open'. 'If Congress cuts funding for Medicaid benefits, Missouri workers and their children will lose their health care,' Hawley wrote. 'And hospitals will close. It's that simple. And that pattern will replicate in states across the country.' "Republicans' proposed Medicaid cuts met with dismay" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Medical schools need to take a stand, help students navigate the needs of LGBTQ+ patients
'If physicians are not trained on specific health risks that directly impact transgender patients, how can we provide adequate care? If we are not taught about racial health disparities, how will we work to combat them? If we stop prioritizing inclusion, how can we ensure equal health care for all?' (Getty Images) When the government puts legal barriers in place to strip away or prevent health care access, it's not just politics — it's real people's lives at stake. During the summer of 2024, countless transgender and gender expansive patients expressed to me fears about what might happen to their access to gender affirming medical care if a conservative administration were to win the White House. This worst-case scenario became reality in the first weeks of 2025, when President Donald Trump signed an executive order redefining legal gender identity as a strict binary of male and female — effectively erasing recognition of nonbinary and transgender individuals and interrupting federal funding to institutions providing gender-affirming health care. As a transgender health program intern, I have seen providers try to reassure patients of their well-being and safety while they themselves fear how their job will be affected if the laws would drastically alter the way we practice medicine. As a gay man about to enter the medical profession, I am afraid. The recent wave of anti-trans initiatives pushed by this administration is part of a much broader effort to dismantle diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) programs across the country under the guise of 'restoring meritocracy' and 'leveling the playing field.' But in health care, the playing field has never been level. Minority populations continue to face disproportionate health risks and barriers to care. DEIB is the foundation of medical education. It teaches future physicians how to address these disparities and combat the structural inequities that put vulnerable patients at risk. Studies show medical students have felt unprepared to manage transgender and gender expansive patients upon graduation. One study even claimed that only 27% of students were confident in their knowledge of the health needs of transgender patients. Beyond that, they could not correctly answer questions about race-related medical history despite affirming that understanding historical context is important in medicine. This lack of education was always a problem, and efforts were underway to solve it. Eliminating DEIB would not only erode this progress but set us back behind where we were even before we started. In 2020, the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) rolled out the Structural Competency Curriculum which aims to train providers 'to recognize and respond to the impact of upstream, structural factors on patient health and health care.' Since then, medical schools around the country have adopted the values of this curriculum and incorporated it throughout the course of their students' training. Health equity is a core pillar of medical students' professional development and should be embedded into the culture of patient-centric care. When DEIB is dismantled, programs like these disappear, and awareness of health disparities among marginalized patient populations fades from the culture of those whose job is to provide the proper care and treatment. If physicians are not trained on specific health risks that directly impact transgender patients, how can we provide adequate care? If we are not taught about racial health disparities, how will we work to combat them? If we stop prioritizing inclusion, how can we ensure equal health care for all? Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. Legislation cannot change a person's identity, but it will change their access to health care. Medical schools need to teach this, and we as students want to learn. Future doctors like me are watching everything that is happening, and we are worried. When students apply to medical school, the number one question they are asked is, 'Why medicine?' While the answer to this question can take many different forms, the bottom line is pretty simple: We want to help people. Medical schools can make a monumental difference in how future doctors navigate this political environment and provide care to patients. We urge medical schools to keep teaching us how to do that for all patients. New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Hampshire Bulletin maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Dana Wormald for questions: info@
