Stony Brook Medicine EVP William Wertheim, MD, Authors Crain’s Op-Ed on Impact of Federal Loan Caps

Executive Vice President for Stony Brook Medicine William A. Wertheim, MD, MBA, recently authored an op-ed in Crain's New York Business examining the potential consequences of proposed federal caps on professional education loans.

In the piece, Wertheim highlights how access to federal student loans plays a critical role in enabling students from all backgrounds to pursue careers in medicine. Drawing from personal experience, he notes that both scholarships and federal loans were essential to his own education, underscoring how these resources open the door to medical careers that would otherwise be out of reach.

The op-ed outlines how new federal proposals would eliminate Graduate PLUS loans and cap borrowing for professional students with limits that fall well below the current cost of attending medical school. At Stony Brook Medicine, where the majority of students rely on financial aid, such changes could significantly restrict access to medical education, particularly for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Wertheim emphasizes that these barriers could have far-reaching consequences for the healthcare workforce. With New York already facing shortages across specialties, limiting access to medical training may further strain the pipeline of physicians, especially in underserved communities. Because many doctors ultimately practice in the regions where they train, reduced access to education could directly impact the availability of care across the state.

He also notes that the effects extend beyond medicine to other critical health professions, including dentistry and doctoral-level nursing and therapy programs, where costs are often even higher and borrowing options may become more limited.

While some institutions are exploring solutions, such as expanding scholarships, developing new financing models, and implementing accelerated degree programs, Wertheim stresses that schools cannot fully offset the gap left by federal loan caps alone.

His central ask is that policymakers reconsider the proposed changes, warning that restricting access to educational funding could ultimately limit access to care.

Read the full op-ed in Crain's New York Business (subscription required).