Trump Travel Ban, Visa Changes Could Heighten Doctor Shortage

Miriam Jordan, New York Times, Mar. 18, 2017 - "Small-­town America relies on a steady flow of doctors from around the world to deliver babies, treat heart ailments and address its residents’ medical needs. But a recent, little­publicized decision by the government to alter the timetable for some visa applications is likely to delay the arrival of new foreign doctors, and is causing concern in the places that depend on them. While the Trump administration is fighting, in the courts of justice and public opinion, for its temporary travel ban affecting six countries, the slowdown in the rural doctor pipeline shows how even a small, relatively uncontroversial change can ripple throughout the country."

Jeremy Redmon, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mar. 20, 2017 - "“It is very important that we can continue to have an inflow of physicians. There is a need there,” said Dr. Manoj Shah, an Indian native and former president of the Medical Association of Georgia who now works as an obstetrician-gynecologist in the Warner Robins area. Shah is also worried the travel ban could prevent foreign students from obtaining visas to come to the U.S. There are 1,375 foreign students enrolled in U.S. medical schools now, including 15 in Georgia, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Dr. Atul Grover, the association’s executive vice president, is particularly concerned whether potential medical students are hearing news about the travel ban and considering going elsewhere. “We have the privilege of being able to choose the very best talent in science and medicine and other fields of academics that the rest of the world can’t choose from,” he said. “I don’t know if that changes — that would really hurt us.”"