Recognizing the contributions of academic medicine and observing Academic Medicine Week from June 8 through 12, 2026.

This House Resolution designates June 8 through 12, 2026, as Academic Medicine Week to acknowledge the profound contributions of academic medicine across the nation. It highlights the vital role played by medical schools, academic health systems, teaching hospitals, and their dedicated professionals in advancing healthcare.

Academic medicine focuses on four core missions: educating and training the healthcare workforce, conducting groundbreaking medical research, delivering cutting-edge patient care, and collaborating with communities to improve public health. These institutions, including the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) network, serve as essential economic engines and provide a significant portion of charity care, Medicare, and Medicaid inpatient days.

The resolution emphasizes academic medicine's crucial partnerships, such as with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where AAMC-member institutions conduct approximately 60 percent of all extramural research. An 80-year collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has also made the VA the largest single provider of medical training in the country, with 70 percent of U.S. physicians completing part of their training there.

Academic medicine is instrumental in addressing the persistent physician shortage by training 70 percent of medical residents and advocating for increased Medicare support for graduate medical education. Continued support for Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) programs is also deemed essential for workforce development, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Ultimately, the resolution affirms the unique and critical impact of academic medicine on patients and communities nationwide. It calls for strong federal support for programs that bolster its leadership in research, patient care, education, and community collaborations, encouraging the public to recognize its indispensable role in improving health for all.