Sunday, July 1, 2007

The June 19 news story " Community Health Clinics Flourish, but Doctors Are Few," on the nationwide shortage of health professionals in underserved areas, overlooked the critical role of federal Title VII education programs for the health professions.

These programs are the only ones designed to educate and prepare health professionals to care for the underserved. Yet they have been the repeated target of presidential budget cuts. In 2006, federal support for Title VII programs was reduced by 50 percent.

Since 2001, the Association of American Medical Colleges, others in the medical professions and members of Congress have highlighted the shortsightedness of the Bush administration's efforts to double the number of community health centers while failing to invest in the workforce needed to staff these centers. Title VII programs are essential to providing the qualified professionals these centers need to fulfill their mission of caring for our nation's most vulnerable citizens.

We urge Congress to restore Title VII funding, and we hope the administration will cease undermining its own well-intended efforts to increase health care for the underserved. Our nation needs to support the programs that help educate those who could provide that care.

DARRELL G. KIRCH

President and Chief Executive Officer

Association of American Medical Colleges

Washington