After two years as a medical school resident for the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Aaron Rhyner sees 14 patients a day, works 50 to 80 hours each week and earns roughly $50,000 a year. Rhyner, 29, of Tacoma, Wash., calls his work "something special," a chance to make a difference. He's also doing his part to help fix a growing national shortage of primary care physicians, which is expected to approach 52,000 by 2025, hitting rural regions and Indian reservations the hardest. Amid fears that the U.S. won't keep up with the rising demand, Congress is under increased pressure to respond.
