Dear Editor,
In defense of my profession, I wish to clarify what lies at the core of medicine: using a distinct skill set to care for people. Have you ever seen a skilled obstetrician deliver twins? Or an orthopedic or emergency medicine provider set a broken humerus? A primary care doctor identifying and treating depression, truly a life-saving clinical skill?
The practice of medicine begins with hands-on education and training, just like nursing, dental and social work professions. This is similar to learning a trade such as plumbing, teaching or carpentry. We must not account for the critical investment in our future workforce by accounting for every dollar spent relative to empowering the next generation of professionals.
A recent VTDigger article and two commentaries discuss retention of physicians trained in Vermont and the cost to train physicians being borne largely by commercial payers. In 2026, commercial payers are shouldering a growing share of that cost, as the federal government sends fewer Medicaid dollars to Vermont and cuts funding for public health and substance use programs.
Vermont’s retention of residency graduates is slightly lower than the national average and could worsen. This relates to the challenging healthcare climate in our state. Perhaps it also relates to sluggish political will. Vermont has leaned on federal grants and matching funds to get the Maple Mountain Family Medicine Residency program off the ground, rather than committing state dollars of its own.
Vermont’s healthcare ecosystem is under constant scrutiny due to high costs and intense regulation, but the answer is not to cut education and training. The Hippocratic Oath involves four core principles, and one is “duty to teach.” Let’s sustain this joyful, selfless and critical exercise that doctors like me practice every day.
Elizabeth Hunt
Charlotte, Vt.
