Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., has recently addressed issues related to rural healthcare access and education in a series of posts on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. Murphy, who represents North Carolina’s 3rd congressional district and has consistently won reelection since 2019, commented on the shortage of U.S. doctors in rural communities and congratulated a local school as students returned for the new academic year.
On August 8, 2025, Murphy responded to concerns about physician availability in underserved areas by stating, “Completely wrong. Rural communities cannot find US Doctors. Foreign Med grads are the only ones who will treat those patients. It’s about access.”
Later that day, he highlighted educational developments in Onslow County: “Congratulations to Woodland Elementary School and Onslow County! It’s back-to-school time, and students will benefit greatly from the state-of-the-art facilities the campus offers. Excited for students to have a great experience and a wonderful school year!”
Addressing ongoing challenges in medical education on August 9, Murphy wrote: “Yes too little too late. We’ve known a shortage would happen for at least 15 yrs. Yes too few slots…but too many US medical students do not work full clinical careers. Too many drop out to pursue other careers after graduation.”
Murphy’s comments come amid persistent concerns over healthcare workforce shortages in rural America—a trend that experts say has been developing for years due to limited residency slots and changing career paths among U.S.-trained medical graduates.
Since first winning office in a special election against Allen Thomas in 2019 with over 61% of the vote, Murphy has maintained strong electoral support through subsequent victories over Daryl Farrow (2020), Barbara Gaskins (2022), and Gheorghe Cormos (2024). His background as both a physician and legislator informs his public statements on healthcare policy.
