MSSNY Pulse – January 24, 2025

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). Citing the organization’s “mishandling” of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health crises, the order also criticized WHO’s funding structure, highlighting that China, with a significantly larger population, contributes far less financially than the U.S.

The order redirects U.S. global health efforts, suspends all WHO funding and resources, and mandates the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy to review and revise the 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy. Additionally, new public health and biosecurity directorates will be created within the National Security Council.

Other health-related executive orders rescind several Biden-era policies, including experimental drug pricing models aimed at reducing Medicare and Medicaid costs, extended Affordable Care Act enrollment periods, and certain COVID-19 pandemic policies. Protections against discrimination based on sexual or gender identity and policies ensuring non-discrimination in schools were also rescinded.

Trump withdraws from World Health Organization, makes several other health-related moves (Medical Economics, Shyrock, 1/21).

With the Governor’s State of the State message released last week and Executive Budget this week setting forth the Governor’s vision for health care in New York, now is the time to mark your calendar to come to Albany for Tuesday, March 11, 2025, and join us for MSSNY’s annual Physician Advocacy Day.

The timing for this event is critical because it is around the same time that both the Assembly and Senate are finalizing their respective one-House Budgets setting the stage for negotiations with the Governor.

This year’s event will take place in person in Meeting Room 6 in the Empire State Plaza, Albany, from 7:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. During the morning session, physicians and their allies will hear from legislative leaders and ask them critical questions about their policy priorities. In the afternoon, participants will meet with their legislators in sessions organized by county medical societies.

Please Register today: Physician Advocacy Registration

We look forward to seeing you there as we advocate for the future of healthcare!

The 2024-2025 academic year has seen a decline in Black and Hispanic enrollment in U.S. medical schools, with drops of 11.6% and 10.8%, respectively, according to a report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). These declines, following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to end affirmative action in higher education, translate to a loss of over 250 Black and 300 Hispanic medical students compared to the previous year. Enrollment among American Indian/Alaska Native students fell even more sharply, at 22.1%.

This decrease raises significant concerns about the future diversity of the physician workforce. Experts like Dan Ly, MD, PhD, of UCLA, warn that the medical profession risks “losing a generation of doctors” from historically underrepresented groups, exacerbating existing healthcare disparities.

Although the number of applications from Black and Hispanic individuals slightly increased this year (by 2.8% and 2.2%, respectively), acceptance rates have declined, potentially due to the inability to consider race as a factor in admissions. AAMC’s senior director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Norma Poll-Hunter, PhD, emphasized the importance of diversity in medical education, noting that it enhances patient care and fosters better civic and cultural understanding among future physicians.

The Supreme Court’s decision, alongside legislative actions in states like Florida and Texas targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, underscores a broader shift in higher education policy. While the ruling aimed to promote fairness in admissions, critics argue it may deepen inequities in medical training and care delivery.

This sharp enrollment drop highlights the urgent need for alternative strategies to address systemic barriers and ensure a diverse and representative physician workforce to meet the healthcare needs of all communities.

‘Losing A Generation of Doctors’: Black, Hispanic Medical School Enrollment Drops Sharply After Supreme Court Decision (Medscape, Dotinga,1/15).

Yesterday, January 24, 2025, marked Healthcare Continuing Education Professionals Day™, a special day dedicated to recognizing the invaluable role of professionals who keep clinicians at the forefront of medical knowledge and patient care.

Continuing education professionals work tirelessly to design, deliver, and refine educational programs that ensure healthcare providers remain competent, compassionate, and prepared to meet ever-evolving challenges.

Continuing education professionals also foster lifelong learning, drive professional development, and ultimately enhance patient care. MSSNY is proud to recognize our continuing education professionals – Miriam Hardin, PhD, Continuing Medical Education Manager; Melissa Hoffman, MPP, Senior Director for Public Health; Emily Rento, Associate Director of Public Health ; and Nicholas Associate Director for Legislation and Policy and Veterans Grant Program Coordinator – for all that they do to empower our physician learners with the tools and knowledge needed to deliver the highest quality of care.

The Trump administration has issued a directive requiring several federal health agencies to temporarily suspend external communications. Affected agencies include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other entities under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This suspension applies to scientific reports, health advisories, website updates, social media posts, and press releases.

According to a memo from Acting Health Secretary Dr. Dorothy Fink, this pause, effective through February 1, 2025, mandates that all communications and public engagements undergo review and approval by presidential appointees. Additionally, employees must coordinate with appointees before issuing official correspondence to Congress or governors. Exemptions for time-sensitive or legally mandated communications can be submitted for consideration.

The directive has raised significant concerns among public health experts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention routinely provides critical updates on public health threats, including the current H5N1 bird flu outbreak affecting livestock and humans. Experts fear that delayed communication could hinder timely responses to emerging health risks.

Trump Administration Directs Federal Health Agencies to Pause Communications (CNN, Goodman, 1/22).