The role of government in postgraduate training programs in women's health

This paper examines the role of the federal government in postgraduate training programs in women's health. Health care professional education has long been an interest of many agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services. Although federal agencies have not been directly involved in the creation of curriculum or funding of training programs in women's health, they have helped to catalyze wide public and private support of these programs. The Office on Women's Health within the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women's Health, and the Health Resources and Services Administration have each provided recommendations for the inclusion of women's health in the medical school curriculum. Additionally, the Council on Graduate Medical Education, an advisory body to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Congress, has recommended that physicians develop a broad understanding of health conditions specific to women. Although federal funding is not available for the development of training programs in women's health, continued public and private interest will foster the development of post-graduate training programs that will improve the delivery of health care for women in the United States.