DOVER – Last week, Rep. Alonna Berry, in partnership with the Delaware Academy of Family Physicians, convened with healthcare leaders from across Delaware for her inaugural Healthcare Roundtable.
The Sussex County lawmaker brought together physicians, healthcare executives, educators, students, residents, and policymakers to identify practical solutions to some of the state’s most pressing healthcare challenges. Among the many topics discussed were expanding access to care in rural and underserved communities, strengthening physician recruitment and retention, addressing workforce shortages, improving patient access to primary care, and building a stronger, more sustainable healthcare system for Delaware.
“Healthcare transformation doesn’t happen because of one bill or one budget. It requires real systems thinking and the infrastructure to support lasting change. The challenges Delawareans experience every day, from limited access to primary care and increased emergency room use to rising insurance costs, workforce shortages, housing for healthcare professionals, and childcare for shift workers, are all connected. If we want generational change, we have to address those challenges together,” said Rep. Berry.
“Healthcare reform is not a partisan issue. The solutions are found by listening to the physicians, nurses, healthcare workers, patients, and community leaders who live these challenges every day, then working across sectors to build a stronger, more accessible healthcare system for every Delawarean. This Healthcare Roundtable is only the beginning, and I look forward to continuing this work.”
During the 153rd General Assembly, lawmakers advanced several measures to expand access to quality, affordable healthcare while supporting Delaware’s healthcare workforce. These efforts included Rep. Berry’s House Bill 325, which was signed into law in May 2026. The bill modernizes the Physician Associate (PA) profession, creates a pathway for qualified PA’s to apply for independent practice authority, and recognizes the role these providers play in Delaware’s healthcare system.
In addition to highlighting recently enacted legislation, representatives from TidalHealth, Beebe Healthcare, Christiana Care, Bayhealth, independent practices, and Delaware’s medical education pipeline discussed the need to recruit new healthcare professionals while retaining those already serving the state.
“We can’t recruit our way out of a physician shortage if we’re not also retaining the physicians already caring for Delaware families,” said Cedric T. Barnes, DO, FAAFP. “We have to make it possible for physicians not just to practice here, but to build a life here in Delaware. The path forward starts with listening to what our physicians actually need, then working collaboratively to build solutions that strengthen both the profession of family medicine and the health of our communities.”
Dr. Barnes’ call for collaboration was supported by other physicians at the round table, including Dr. Joyce Roberts, who is the Founding Program Director of the Family Medicine Residency at Beebe Healthcare’s R. Randall Rollins Center for Medical Education.
“I believe Family Medicine is the best specialty, and a crucial component of a robust healthcare system,” said Joyce Robert, MD, FAAFP, “It was refreshing to be heard regarding the healthcare needs in Delaware, and we are hopeful these conversations will lead to positive change in regard to healthcare access, physician loan repayment, and keeping and recruiting primary care physicians in Delaware.”
This roundtable was the first in an ongoing series of conversations aimed at strengthening communication among frontline healthcare providers, health systems, educators, and policymakers. Future discussions will continue to address physician burnout, access to primary care, medical education, workforce retention, barriers facing rural communities, and the importance of creating sustainable pathways for healthcare professionals to live and work in Delaware.
Rep. Berry appreciates the Delaware Academy of Family Physicians for partnering on the roundtable and the participants who shared their expertise.
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