FSMB Foundation Releases 2024 Annual Report
The FSMB Foundation has released its 2024 Annual Report. The Foundation made strong progress over the last year, benefiting the medical regulatory community by distributing the largest grants in its history.
In the second year of its new strategic plan, the Foundation continued to focus on improving the long-term effectiveness and viability of the nation's state medical board system as a means of achieving safer, higher quality health care.
The full report is available at https://www.fsmb-foundation2024annualreport.org/
NBME Impact Report
In 2024, NBME updated its mission to more clearly articulate its goal of advancing assessment of health professionals to achieve optimal care for all.
At the heart of its mission is the use of assessment to support medical learner growth and the belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality health care. The current edition of NBME Impact: A Community Report includes:
Enhancing NBME's capabilities to support students and educators.
Accelerating innovations for learner opportunities.
Advancing causes that promote better health for all.
The full report is available at https://www.nbme.org/news/march-2025-nbme-impact-report-bringing-everything-back-mission
Independent Physicians, Practices Disappearing from Rural Landscape
Independent physicians in rural areas declined 43%, or 9500 doctors, in the five-year period from January 2019 to January 2024, according to a new analysis commissioned by the Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI), with data from Avalere.
The overall number of doctors is inching down, as is the number of independent medical practices, which saw a 42% drop, or 7300 practices, for the same time period. Based on practice ownership type, health system and other corporate ownership levels increased during that time, according to the study. The results could foreshadow not just doctors switching types of employment, but a larger issue of declining health care access in rural areas, according to PAI.
Further information is available at https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/independent-physicians-practices-disappearing-from-rural-landscape
ERAS 2026 Program Information Now Available
Information for international medical students/graduates (IMGs) on the Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®) 2026 application season is now available. Those who plan to apply for US residency positions that begin in July 2026, please visit the ERAS Support Services section of the ECFMG website for important information.
Most US residency programs participate in ERAS. Those who apply to participating programs must use ERAS to do so.
Further information is available at https://www.ecfmg.org/news/2025/05/20/eras-2026-programinformation-for-imgs-now-available/
