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Session Evaluation

AOHC 2025

OEM Related Management and Administration

412 - Collaboration Between Two Residencies and the State Workers Compensation Provider in Increasing Occupational and Environmental Medicine Specialists

Wednesday, April 30, 2025
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM CT
Location: Lone Star Salon C
Claim 1.0 CME
There is a national shortage of Occupational and Environmental (OEM) physicians first identified in 1990 by the National Institute of Medicine and shortages have only increased since. OEM residency programs had more than 40 programs nationwide in the 1990's, currently less than 23 programs exist. One of the primary causes of this decline is challenges in funding as OEM residencies are not funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as are other specialties, but are mainly funded through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). However, flat budget spending allotted for education at NIOSH together with difficulties in renewing funding in 5-year cycles have only added to the challenge.In this session, we aim to explore and review other sources of funding for OEM residency programs, and share our experience in partnering with our leading state worker's compensation insurance company which resulted in a 20% increase in resident positions. We also discuss how the audience attending can become an advocate for increasing residency funding ensuring the sustainability of our specialty for future generations.

Learning Objectives:

  • Outline the current funding structure of OEM residencies.
  • Define additional feasible pathways for funding of OEM residencies.
  • Describe the partnership between the state's OEM residency programs and the state's leading workers' compensation insurance company and their participation in residents' education.
Disclosure(s):
Dalia E. Nessim, MD, MPH, Dipl. ABLM, FACOEM: No financial relationships to disclose
W Brett Perkison, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Nicholas F. Tsourmas, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Foster Lerner, DO, MPH, MA: No financial relationships to disclose
Jackie Sekiguchi: No financial relationships to disclose