Press Center

On March 5, ACOEM leadership, including President Dr. Laura Gillis, President-elect Dr. Jill Rosenthal, ACOEM Past President and current Chair of the Council on Government Affairs (COGA) Dr. Bob Bourgeois, and COGA Vice Chair Dr. Judith McKenzie, participated in Capitol Hill meetings to share the importance of maintaining stable funding for National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) programs that support Occupational & Environmental Medicine (OEM) Residency programs. 
 
After a tumultuous 2025, where federal funding was uncertain and the existence of NIOSH not guaranteed, things have started to swing in a more positive direction following the reinstatement of NIOSH staff and the passage of fiscal year 2026 spending bills in January.  With the start of the fiscal year 2027 funding cycle, ACOEM has been able to turn more attention to educating Congressional offices about OEM, ACOEM, and the role occupational and environmental physicians play in preventing, diagnosing, and treating injuries and illnesses caused or aggravated by workplace exposures, the critical role they play in helping injured or ill workers safely return to work, as well as the role they plan in identifying and remediating workplace hazards, supporting emergency response efforts, and addressing environmental health risks that impact communities.  
 
During the meetings, Drs. Gillis, Rosenthal, Bourgeois, and McKenzie each shared their career paths, showing Congressional staff the real life impact of OEM physicians and how they uniquely serve different states, communities and businesses. The national and regional economic impact of OEM was also discussed, which was of particular interest to several of the offices. Overall, the meetings were positive and Congressional staff were engaged and asked thoughtful questions about the field of occupational and environmental medicine. 
 
Advocacy for enduring funding for OEM Residency Programs, including exploring new programs and funding options, will continue to be key in 2026 and beyond.