DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Medical Society (IMS) applauds Governor Kim Reynolds, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Iowa's teaching hospitals, and Iowa's congressional delegation for securing federal approval of Iowa's Graduate Medical Education (GME) expansion.

Last week, Governor Reynolds and Iowa HHS announced federal approval of Iowa's Graduate Medical Education expansion, securing approximately $49.5 million in additional annual federal funding to support physician residency training programs across Iowa's 13 teaching hospitals. Once fully implemented, the expansion is expected to support more than 128 additional residency positions statewide, strengthening Iowa's physician workforce pipeline and improving access
to care.

This investment advances recommendations identified through Operation I.O.W.A., the statewide physician workforce initiative convened by the Iowa Medical Society in December 2024 that brought together health care leaders from across Iowa. Expanding GME capacity emerged as a key priority through Operation I.O.W.A. because physicians are significantly more likely to practice where they complete their residency training.

"This investment will help train more physicians in Iowa and increase the likelihood they stay here to care for Iowa patients," said Iowa Medical Society President Lillian Erdahl, MD. "Expanding residency opportunities was a key IMS priority identified through Operation I.O.W.A., and we appreciate Governor Reynolds' leadership in advancing this important workforce solution."

Iowa continues to face physician workforce challenges and ranks near the bottom nationally in physicians per capita. Expanding residency training opportunities is widely recognized as one of the most effective long-term strategies for increasing physician supply, particularly in rural and underserved areas.