In these hard times, nothing saddens me more than a pysician succumbing to COVID-19. Especially if they were doctor on a visa. We need to protect them and their families. Have you thought of what happens to their dependent families? Please watch.

I do not have as many followers, but those with more followers, please ask your followers, employers, house representatives and senators to support S948 and HR2895. @MKIttlesonMD @BldCancerDoc @DrSidMukherjee @IDdocAdi @laxswamy @ShariqShamimMD @VincentRK @gradydoctor

@Rishidesai11 @CarlosdelRio7 @DGlaucomflecken @DrStevenTChen @EricTopol @drkomanduri @chadinabhan @londyloo @DrNancyM_CDC @FranciscoMarty_ @sargsyanz @ssfarouk @PSampathkumarMD @prasad_prithiv at the very least, please retweet this thread to your legislators.

Doctors on visas have no ability to help the country during this pandemic in ways that is not compatible with their work visa contract. That means no telehealth, no volunteering at locations more affected by the pandemic.

So many doctors on visas run the risk of losing their jobs due to the economic impact of the pandemic, especially those working tirelessly in smaller rural hospitals.

So many doctors on visas are on the frontline of the pandemic (think IMG residents on visas), and they are working without PPE and being gagged when they try to speak out for fear of losing their livelihoods.

If a doctor on a visa loses their job or worse, dies from COVID-19, their spouses on dependent visas will have to leave the country in times so unsafe for travel. That creates undue amounts of stress over and above all other stresses related to #Covid_19

Doctors on visas form a very large proportion of all doctors in this country (nearly a quarter - much larger than you think). Without them, more people will die in this epidemic. America, you cannot afford to lose them at this time.

So please raise awareness, and ask your hospital CEOs, your society presidents ( AMA, ACC etc) to write to your legislators to ensure that the visa workforce has adequate protections and can assist the pandemic response without these stresses. @WearePAHA