Graduate Medical Education

The number of residency graduates has decreased relative to the population of women. The number of ob-gyns per 10,000 women of reproductive age was 5.5 in 2016, down from 6.2 in 2008; meanwhile the female population is expected to increase 36% by 2050.

Although medical school enrollment has increased by over 25% since 2012, the 1997 cap in Medicare support for graduate medical education (GME) has hindered proportionate increases in residency training. ACOG is committed to improving access for all women to timely, high quality health care.

Our Position

At the federal level, ACOG advocates for federal support for residency training through legislation that increases the number of Medicare-supported GME residency positions by 15,000 over a five-year period.

ACOG also supports the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program within the Health Resources and Services Administration, as an investment in increasing access to care for rural and underserved communities.