The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), the medical specialty society representing physicians who dedicate their careers to disease prevention and health promotion, applauds Congress for coming to an agreement to fund some of the most pressing health needs in the federal budget, including funding for preventive medicine residency programs through the Health Resources and Services Administration.
The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), the medical specialty society representing physicians who dedicate their careers to disease prevention and health promotion, applauds Congress for coming to an agreement to fund some of the most pressing health needs in the federal budget, including funding for preventive medicine residency programs through the Health Resources and Services Administration.
The United States currently suffers from a shortage of physicians trained in public health and prevention, largely due to the limited availability of federal dollars to support preventive medicine residency training programs. Although increased funding to train these physicians is needed, Congress took a step in the right direction by continuing the current funding levels. This will allow the continued training of preventive medicine physicians, whose lifesaving work spans issues including addiction, natural disaster relief, and infectious and chronic diseases.
ACPM is also very pleased to see the inclusion of funding for firearm injury and mortality prevention research for the first time in more than 20 years. This $25 million, split between the CDC and the National Institutes of Health, is a necessary step forward in addressing the firearm violence epidemic in our country. More than 100 people are shot to death every day in America. Nearly 40,000[1] people in the United States were killed with guns in 2017, reaching the highest number of gun deaths in 40 years. Without adequate data and research on these deaths, it is impossible to implement evidence-based public policies to address this public health issue.
ACPM thanks Congress for its bipartisan work in passing this bill to fund important public health priorities and looks forward to building on that work in 2020.
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The American College of Preventive Medicine is a professional society providing leadership in research, professional education, development of public policy, and enhancement of standards of preventive medicine for and on behalf of its physician members. Uniquely trained in both clinical medicine and public health, preventive medicine specialists are equipped to understand and reduce the risks of disease, disability, and death in individuals and population groups.
Media Contact:
Drew Wallace
Communications Specialist
dwallace@acpm.org
(202) 602-6040