Amidst the government shutdown, ACU has continued our vigorous advocacy for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), speaking with Congressional offices including those of Rep. Maxine Dexter, MD (D-OR3), on ways to expand funding and address barriers to Corps utilization.
To aid our community’s advocacy, ACU also recently surveyed NHSC members and alumni to gather insights on strategies to enhance the Corps’ half-century of success in incentivizing clinicians to serve in under-resourced communities. Analysis found that instability in loan repayment, employment and site matching, and other barriers hindered Corps utilization. In response, those surveyed recommended a variety of potential solutions, such as creating a new residency-to-service track, increasing awareness and outreach, and expanding high-need incentives.
Read our National Health Service Corps brief, “Life-Changing but Presently Limited: Survey of National Health Service Corps Participants and Recommendations for Modernizing the Program,” to learn what respondents identified as structural barriers to Corps retention and recruitment, as well as their recommendations to strengthen an already life-changing program.
