Ultimately, the nation must decide how much it values the next generation of healers. Will we make becoming a doctor an attainable goal for the bright student with humble origins and a passion for service? Or will we inadvertently make the white coat a privilege reserved mainly for the wealthy? The Big Beautiful Bill Act has sketched one vision of that future – a harsher, leaner vision. It will be up to future lawmakers, medical leaders, and society to shape a better one, whe

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” carries big implications for how future doctors finance their education and repay loans. It’s a developing story that all medical students should watch. The good news: even in the new proposed system, there are protections against runaway debt and options to make payments manageable (interest subsidies, income-based caps, etc.). The challenge: students may need to be more resourceful with funding and patient with longer repayment horizons.