PTuE2 - Increasing Health Center Participation in Dental and Medical Education: A Key Component of the “Triple Double for Primary Care by 2030”

Session Description: “Physician Training In Rural And Health Center Settings More Than Doubled, 2008–24”, in the May 2025 issue of Health Affairs, provides data on rural and federally qualified health center (FQHC) participation in graduate medical education (GME) which demonstrate a several fold increase for primary care specialties such as family medicine. These findings hold great promise for health center-driven workforce development efforts in view of Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program outcome data which shows that health center residency training program graduates are more likely to practice in rural and medically underserved settings.

This session will examine federal, state and local strategies and resources that have important roles with increasing rural and FQHC participation in dental and medical education, an essential element of the “Triple Double Strategy for Primary Care in 2030” framework developed by Asaf Bitton, MD, MPH of Ariadne Labs. Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Technical Assistance Center (THCGME TAC) content experts will review rural and FQHC GME participation data and share information on state-based initiatives to increase rural and FQHC participation in GME. Session content will also include an overview of tools, resources and policies to support and promote rural and FQHC participation in graduate medical and dental education. Health center perspectives and experience with expanding their participation in medical and dental education will provide session participants with opportunities to reflect on options and opportunities for next steps specific to their own involvement in medical and dental education.