NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
New immigration policies could make it harder for hospitals in the United States to hire and keep foreign-born doctors, raising concerns about patient care—especially in rural and underserved areas.
That was the key message from a recent episode of the American Thoracic Society’s Breathe Easy podcast, where host Patti Tripathi spoke with Harvard medical historian Dr. Eram Alam and pulmonologist Dr. Lynn Schnapp about the growing challenges facing the healthcare system.
The experts said immigrant doctors have long been a vital part of American medicine. For decades, at least one in four doctors in the U.S. has been foreign-born. In some earlier years, that number was even higher.
“These physicians are often the ones working in the areas that need help the most,” Dr. Alam explained.
Across the country, more than 80 million people live in areas where there are not enough doctors. Many of these communities depend on immigrant physicians for basic healthcare.
Dr. Schnapp said hospitals have traditionally recruited doctors from around the world to fill important roles, especially in specialties like infectious disease and endocrinology, which are less popular among U.S.-trained doctors. Many of these physicians also serve in rural areas through visa programs that require them to work in underserved communities.
But recent policy changes, including higher visa fees and tighter restrictions on work visas, are making it harder for hospitals to bring in these doctors. Some medical programs have already stopped accepting certain visa applications.
Experts warn this could lead to fewer doctors being available to treat patients.
“If hospitals can’t bring in enough doctors, patients will suffer,” Dr. Alam said, adding that reduced staffing could even lead to preventable deaths in some cases.
There is also growing anxiety among immigrant doctors already in the U.S. Long visa processing times and stricter rules have created uncertainty about their future. Some are even hesitant to travel outside the country for fear they may not be allowed back in.
The situation is already affecting where doctors choose to go. Countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia are becoming more attractive because their immigration systems are seen as more stable.
To cope with possible shortages, hospitals are trying different solutions, such as expanding telemedicine and relying more on nurse practitioners and physician assistants. But experts say these steps may not fully make up for the loss of trained doctors.
The issue also has global implications. During the COVID-19 pandemic, immigrant doctors played a key role in providing emergency care in the U.S., showing how important international medical talent can be.
The experts stressed that immigrant physicians are not just helping the system—they are a core part of it.
“This is not optional,” Dr. Alam said. “Immigrant doctors are essential to how healthcare works in this country.”
