We hope that today’s “READERS FORUMâ€Â will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way? WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?Â
WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?
Todays“Readers Poll†question is: If the 2019 City Council At-Large election was held today, what three (3) potential candidates would you vote for?
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AN INFLUX OF FOREIGN DOCTORS, BUT QUALIFIED AMERICANS SHUTOUT
Last month, the American Medical Association issued a press release that urged U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to process more H-1–visas, thereby allowing more nonresident physicians to come to the United States to practice medicine. The AMA claimed that a shortage of nonresident physicians who help fill care gaps in medically underserved regions diminishes overall patient care.,
In a letter to USCIS Director Francis Cissna, AMA CEO James L. Madara said that the fixed per country caps which govern H-1–visa issuance keep the agency from processing enough petitions. The AMA, citing data from the Association of American Medical Colleges, concluded that the nation had a physician shortfall of nearly 20,000 in 2016. And since all pleas for more special interest, employment-based visas routinely include doomsday forecasts for future decades, the AMA predicted that by 2030 the shortage will increase to between 42,600 and 121,300.,
But ample evidence exists that the AMA doesn’t need to lobby for foreign-born doctors. Thousands of American medical school graduates are eager for the opportunity to practice their life-saving profession.,
In 2018, nearly 1,100 U.S. medical school seniors and more
than 800 previous U.S. graduates did not match to a residency at a teaching hospital. Without fulfilling a residency, the doctors can’t practice medicine.,
The National Resident Matching Program data reveals that from 2011 to 2018, 8,218 U.S. seniors did not matriculate into residency training. During that same period, 27,866 foreign-trained physicians, non-U.S. international medical graduates (IMGs) on H-1–and J-1 visas were selected for residencies. Although an impressive 94 percent of U.S. citizen medical graduates do match, the six percent that doesn’t translate to hundreds of individuals who have many years and hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in their extended medical education, but can’t find a job.,
For those that don’t match immediately post-graduation, they can reapply for a residency slot. But the longer they’re out of medical school without a residency, the more difficult their chances of success are.,
Taxpayers subsidize non-U.S. medical school graduates. Federal Medicare funding underwrites residency training positions for about 3,700 in-U.S. IMGs annually. Reducing the number of IMGs who receive residencies would help U.S.-trained physicians get a fair shot at a job. The goal, then, isn’t to eliminate foreign doctors altogether, but rather to put U.S.-educated physicians at the head of the line for coveted residencies.,
Cissna’s office is besieged with requests for more employment-based visas,’ for ag, leisure and tech. In the IMG’s case, however, they can enter on either an H-1–or J-1 visa. But, on a J-1 they must return home or receive a waiver when their residency ends. The H-1–doesn’t require a waiver to remain, and the visa holder can immediately request lawful permanent status upon his residency’s completion, making it a more attractive option.,
Luckily for deserving U.S. doctors, the AMA’s request will likely fall on deaf ears. While addressing a National Press Club audience last month, Cissna said that his hope is that Congress will soon pass legislation that prohibits visa holders from displacing American workers.,
Until Congress passes such legislation, the AMA should concern itself with qualified, deserving American doctors denied residencies that are given instead to foreign-born physicians.
FOOTNOTE: Joe Guzzardi is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. Contact him at jguzzardi@pfirdc.org.
By Eddie Drews
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—Twenty-seven years of marathon dances have raised $50 million for the Riley Children’s Foundation, which supports medical care for children at Riley Hospital as well as a camp for youngsters with disabilities.
Tuesday, that milestone was recognized in a program at the Statehouse where Indiana First Lady Janet Holcomb presented the foundation’s CEO, Kevin O’Keefe, with the honorary title, “Sagamore of the Wabash.â€
The Riley Dance Marathon is an event which began in 1991 and takes place at different high schools and colleges across the Hoosier state. All the money raised goes toward helping Riley children and their families who are in need when they are sick.
“As a Riley Children’s Foundation board of governor’s member and Riley advocate, I’m grateful for the time and dedication Riley Dance Marathon students put into raising funds,†Holcomb told the group gathered in the south atrium. “Their passion for the kids is unparalleled.â€
Riley Lesh, a junior at Decatur Central High School and a Riley kid since birth, shared some of her personal stories.
“I was born 15 weeks premature and weighed one pound 10 ounces when I was born,†Lesh said. “I spent the first 90 days of my life in the Riley neonatal intensive care unit.â€
Lesh said she has participated in 250 Riley Dance Marathons since she got involved. O’Keefe said he can vouch for that.
“It doesn’t matter where in the state you are, which dance marathon it is, you’re going to see Riley there,†he said.
Holcomb then presented O’Keefe with a surprise—the Sagamore of the Wabash.
“It is given to our most noteworthy citizens,†she said as she presented the award to O’Keefe, who is about to retire after being with the foundation since 1998.
The dance marathon was created as a fundraiser in 1991, after the death of Ryan White, the Indiana youth who contracted AIDs from a blood transfusion. White also was named a Sagamore of the Wabash.
To close the event, IUPUI Riley Dance Marathon students performed a short dance.
FOOTNOTE: Eddie Drews is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2018 
MITCH ANGLE INDIANA
These funds will be used for physical, operational, and program improvements that enable the programs to join and advance along Paths to Quality, the state’s child care quality rating and improvement system.
With these funds, the programs will join Paths to QUALITY and reach level three, which is considered high-quality.
Early Learning Indiana has made the following gifts:
The EVSC Foundation is pleased to announce an award of $25,000 from State Farm’s Neighborhood Assist program to benefit Hangers, a clothing resource that provides clothing and hygiene supplies for nearly 2,500 EVSC students every year. The grant, currently in its seventh year, inspires and empowers people to turn caring into doing.
To receive the grant, the EVSC Foundation first had to submit a grant proposal which was selected as a finalist out of thousands of nationwide submissions. Once a finalist, the EVSC Foundation competed against 199 other finalists to receive the highest number of votes. The public could vote 10 times a day, every day for 10 days for their favorite charitable cause.
“Hundreds of supporters voted, shared social media posts, and cheered for Hangers to win,†said Maureen Barton, EVSC Foundation executive director. “When you witness students saying, ‘Everything I own is in this bag.’ or ‘may I take another toothbrush for my sister because we share?’ the cause speaks for itself and the community responded.â€
The $25,000 grant allows Hangers to purchase additional clothing and supplies for students, helping to ensure all students have the necessary clothing and supplies to be successful in school whether they are experiencing a short-term transition, house fire, poverty, or affected by homelessness.
“At any given time, any one of us may need a helping hand and that is what Hangers does,†said Dave Schutte, director of Hangers. “State Farm and our community’s support positions us to act as a valuable resource for EVSC.â€
According to Barton, the impact of Hangers goes beyond the student—it reaches families, volunteers, team members, local businesses, and the EVSC family. Hangers helps reduce barriers so students can focus on what is important…their education.â€
Hangers accepts new, gently-used clothing and financial contributions. Hangers also offers volunteer opportunities and tours for organizations looking to support students. Hangers is located at the EVSC’s Academy for Innovative Studies, 2319 Stringtown Road (entrance off Wedeking Avenue) and is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. for donation drop-offs.
“This grant is truly a reflection of our great school corporation and community,†Barton said. “The outpouring support affirms that Hangers is truly making a difference in the lives of students. We would like to extend a big ‘Thank You’ to State Farm, our community and the EVSC family for their amazing support,†said Barton.
SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2018 JEFF GOLDBERG GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA
This is a problem for Gibson County. County commissioner Stephen E. Bottoms says he is “disappointed†in the ruling.
In Gibson County, and Princeton especially, this blocked railway problem has become a major issue. To put it in perspective, Bottoms says Gibson County had at least 70 outstanding fines against different railroad companies.
The number of fines pales in comparison to the anguish folks in the Princeton area face on a day to day basis. Just a few weeks ago, people in Princeton say they were forced to deal with a train blocking the intersection of Old U.S. 41 and CR 100N for 5 days.
That road is a major artery to and from Princeton, the high school is just down the road.
Bottoms said these trains have made it so emergency crews will have to go out of their way when responding potentially life threatening situations.
It also hurts local businesses like Memmers True Value Store. That mom and pop hardware shop sits just a block away from the frequently blocked intersection. If a train blocks that intersection is makes it very hard for a large portion of Princeton to get to the store.
Bottoms says he will continue to work with the railroad companies to smooth out their issues.
For the second-straight season, University of Southern Indiana senior guard Alex Stein was named preseason honorable mention All-American in Street & Smith’s Basketball Magazine. Stein became the 10th USI player to receive preseason honors since 2001 last fall and was the first to receive the honor two consecutive seasons since Stan Gouard in 1994 and 1995.
Stein, who was honorable mention All-American last spring by Division II Bulletin, averaged a team-high 17.5 points in 2017-18, in addition to posting 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 31 games this season. He set a USI career-record with 397 free throws made in three season and a USI single-season record 93.5 free throw percentage (130-139). The senior guard also set a new Screaming Eagles’ mark of 54 consecutive free throws made.
The 93.5 free throw percentage ranked fourth nationally in the NCAA Division II.
Stein became the 20th USI player all-time to reach 1,000 career points and moved up to fifth with 1,487 career points in his three seasons. He has recorded double-digit scoring 80 times during his career, eclipsing 20-or-more points 20 times and 30-or-more points three times. The first-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference guard posted a season-high 31 points this season versus Lake Superior State University that included a USI record-tying 14-of-14 from the free throw line.
In addition to being a 2017-18 honorable mention All-American, Stein was named NABC All-Midwest, All-GLVC, and CoSIDA Academic All-District 4 last year.
Founded in 1904, the Museum was housed in older buildings during the first several decades of its long history. The original location was an old mansion in Sunset Park, which was condemned and razed in 1910. For several years, the museum’s treasures were homeless, but in 1926, the Society of Fine Arts and History was organized to promote the arts in Evansville. The group provided a new venue for the Museum in the original YWCA building at 216 NW Second Street (seen here), which opened in 1928 as the Temple of Fine Arts and Museum. Steady growth eventually led to plans for another facility, and the Museum would return to its point of origin in Sunset Park, reopening in a modern, new building on the city’s riverfront in the late 1950s.
