Maintaining Opportunities for Future Family Physicians Requires Thoughtful Advocacy

A statement from the Washington Academy of Family Physicians:

Over the past year, family medicine residency programs across the state have announced changes that will reduce the number of family medicine resident physicians and, in some cases, close programs entirely.

The Washington Academy of Family Physicians (WAFP) continues to advocate for robust training opportunities for Washington’s family medicine residents. The financial pressures causing these changes are complex and systematic; solutions, therefore, require long-term thinking and strategic advocacy. WAFP will continue working with stakeholders to pursue avenues to sustainability.

Our state’s physician shortage — felt most acutely with primary care physicians — cannot be solved without thoughtful planning among multiple stakeholders. At every stage, WAFP’s involvement will likewise be thoughtful and intentional as we work to improve health for all Washingtonians.