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TRENTON – A new report from the ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Department of Health (NJDOH) explains how the State's strategic investment in graduate medical education (GME) is delivering measurable results for ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s health care workforce, with more training happening in ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, more trainees providing care, and more physicians choosing to establish their careers in-state.

³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ boosted funding for GME by 39% over the two previous fiscal years, adding $84.5 million in State Fiscal Year 2024 and an additional $10 million in SFY 2025. The Murphy Administration has maintained this enhanced funding level, for a total SFY 2026 investment of $336.5 million. The 2024 GME Survey Summary Report shows that ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's investment in medical training is correlated with increases in the number of trainees and improved physician retention after training.

“More physicians practicing in our State means better access to care, shorter wait times, and specialized medical services closer to home,” said Acting Health Commissioner Jeff Brown. “While every state across the country is struggling with health provider shortages, ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ has been expanding training pipelines to better meet our communities’ health care needs.”

The data demonstrate a compelling value proposition for ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ residents. Of the 1,580 medical residents who completed their training in 2024, 471 (30%) plan to practice medicine in ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. That’s a 20% increase from the previous year, when only 391 residents committed to staying in-state, and it represents the second consecutive year of growth in new physician retention. Fellowship programs show equally promising results, with 118 fellows planning to remain in ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ to deliver specialized medical care for ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏans.

³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's 45 teaching hospitals are now training nearly 4,800 residents and fellows, a steady increase that coincides with the State's enhanced funding commitment in ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's medical education infrastructure.

Teaching hospitals incur significant costs in training the next generation of doctors, and the State's funding helps offset these expenses to operate quality training programs.

Given the significant impact of the opioid crisis on families across ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, the subsidy program also requires comprehensive opioid addiction prevention, diagnosis, and treatment education for medical residents and fellows. The 2024 survey confirms 100% compliance across all participating hospitals, ensuring this generation of physicians are equipped to meet this critical public health challenge.

The complete 2024 GME Survey Summary Report provides detailed analysis of training programs across 44 participating teaching hospitals, including the correlation between state investment and physician retention outcomes.

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The ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Department of Health is a nationally accredited health department working to ensure that all ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏans live long, healthy lives and reach their fullest potential. With more than 5,500 employees, the Department serves to protect the public’s health, promote healthy communities, and continue to improve the quality of health care in ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. 

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