Physician Shortage Is Affecting Nevadans’ Ability To Access Quality Health Care
LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) hosted a roundtable with physicians and medical leaders from across Southern Nevada to discuss their Physicians for Underserved Areas Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation to address the state’s doctor shortage by bringing in more medical school residency slots. They were joined by medical professionals, including the Dean of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Kerkorian School of Medicine, Dr. Marc Kahn; Director of Family Medicine Program at Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center, Dr. Angelina Rodriguez; Dean of Touro’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Wolfgang Gilliar; and CEO of Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, Annette Logan-Parker.
“The doctor shortage in our state has made it so much harder for Nevadans to get the health care they need, which is why I’m proud to have introduced bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Susie Lee to tackle it,” said Senator Rosen. “Today’s conversation with doctors and medical school leaders from across Southern Nevada underscored the importance of ensuring communities like ours have access to more medical residency slots so we can address this crisis.”
“Every single county in Nevada is designated as a health professional shortage area and we rank 48th when it comes to physicians per capita,” said Rep. Susie Lee. “Our doctor shortage problem is severe, and it demands action. That’s why Senator Rosen and I have been working to close the doctor shortage gap by bringing more residency slots and physicians to Nevada. We’re going to keep fighting to get every Nevadan the health care they need and deserve.”
Nevada currently ranks 48th in the nation when it comes to primary care physicians per capita, and all 17 counties in the state are designated as “Health Professional Shortage Areas.” Senator Rosen and Congresswoman Lee have been actively working to address the physician shortage in communities across Nevada. They have introduced bipartisan legislation to address the state’s doctor shortage by bringing in more medical school residency slots, and by supporting and improving health care in rural and underserved areas.
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