To assure an adequate supply of primary care physicians,
certified nurse midwives, certified family nurse practitioners, and physician
assistants; and, if needed by the National Health Service Corps, an adequate
supply of other health professionals in the Health Professional Shortage Areas
(HPSAs) of the U.S.A. by providing service-obligated scholarships to health
professions students.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Service-obligated scholarships for full-time students of allopathic (M.D.) and
osteopathic (D.O.) medicine dentistry (3rd and 4th year), family nurse
practitioner, nurse midwifery, and primary care physician assistants. Other
health disciplines may be included after 2002 if needed by National Health
Service Corps. Scholarship pays tuition and required fees for the year to the
school, pays a monthly stipend to student ($1,065 for 12 months of the
2002-2003 school year) and a single annual payment to the student to cover the
cost of all other reasonable educational expenses (books, supplies, equipment,
uniforms, clinical travel, etc.) based on costs by school and class year.
Awards are limited to U.S. citizens due to potential for Federal employment
during service. Applicant must be enrolled in a U.S. accredited school. Each
year of support incurs 1 year of service. A 2-year minimum service commitment
is required. A maximum of 4 years of support may be awarded. Service is
primarily a nonfederal salaried or contracted employee of a public or private
non-profit entity, providing full-time primary health services. Services may
also be in a fee for service private practice setting, or a Federal employee
in Federal health systems such as the Indian Health Service, Immigration
Health Service or Bureau of Prisons. Service sites are selected by the
scholarship recipient from the list of high priority sites in HPSAs identified
by the National Health Service Corps. Physicians receive their site list at
the beginning of their last year of residency training; nurse practitioners,
nurse midwives, and physicians assistants receive their site list within 6
months of their graduation. Service sites are limited to the United States,
territories, and successor States to the Trust Territories, the Republic of
Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of
Palau. Deferments of service are granted physicians to complete residencies in
family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, and OB/GYN.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: At the time of award, the
applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national. At the time of award, the
applicant must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in accredited school in
U.S,in a course of study leading to a degree in medicine, osteopathic
medicine, dentistry, or other health profession. The applicant must submit
application and signed contract to the Scholarship Programs Branch, Division
of National Health Service Corps by the last Friday in March, agreeing to
accept payment of scholarship and provide full-time primary health services in
a Health Professional Shortage Area.
Beneficiary Eligibility: U.S. citizens or
nationals enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a state in a course of study
leading to a degree in medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry or other
health profession.
Credentials/Documentation: Verification of
specific program acceptance or enrollment at time of application. Proof of
U.S. citizenship at time of application. Certificate from medical school of
participation in Federal "Scholarship for Students of Exceptional
Financial Need" giving priority for selection. Certificate of
"Disadvantaged Background" (if claimed) from medical or nursing
school financial aid officials if from low-income family or experienced
inhibiting educational environment.
Pre-application Coordination: Students must be given
a fair summary of the rights and liabilities of student applicants prior to
application. This summary is included in the application packet. Applications
are available directly from the program up to 2 weeks before the application
deadline. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure: Application, a signed
contract, and other information required (as listed in the application packet)
are submitted to the administering Program Office.
Award Procedure: NHSC scholarship awards are very
competitive; the Program anticipates more applicants for scholarship awards
that there are funds available. The applications of individuals who meet the
eligibility criteria are scored numerically. Where the application scores fall
within the competitive range, the applicants will be invited to a personal
interview. Applicants will be notified by mail of dates, times and locations
of the interviews. Applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or
whose scores do not fall within the competitive range will not be invited for
an interview and will be notified of non-selection.
Deadlines: Deadline for receipt of applications
for each new academic year is the last Friday in March.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Notification
to successful and rejected applicants is made no later than 6 months after
deadline for receipt of application.
Appeals: None.
Renewals: Renewal applications are not necessary
for students in compliance; contracts may be multi-year funded through
graduation (1 to 4 years) from the respective fiscal year appropriation, if
the applicant signs the contract through the graduation date.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has
no statutory formula or matching requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Each award
covers 1 to 4 years of support, as requested. No awardees may receive more
than 4 years of support.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Annual reports by schools indicating
average student educational expenses.
Audits: None.
Records: The files of unsuccessful applicants are
retained for 6 months after the application deadline. The files of successful
applicants are retained for 15 years following completion of obligated service
(19 to 27 years: 2-year award + 2-year service + 15 years = 19 years; 4-year
award + 4-year deferment + 4-year service + 15 years = 27).
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification: 75-0350-0-1-550.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $34,222,557; FY 02
est $39,600,000; and FY 03 est $57,218,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
Monthly stipend payment for the 2002/2003 school year is $1,065 plus tuition,
fees and other reasonable costs.
In fiscal year 2001, there were 316 new awardees and 49 continuations. An
increase is expected for fiscal years 2002 and 2003. In fiscal year 2003 we
estimate issuing 522 new and 70 continuing scholarships.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
The most recent regulations, 42 CFR 62.1-14, were published on August 20,
1980. Information Bulletin published annually and Program Fact Sheets are
available at no charge.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters Office: Program Contact: Acting
Chief, Scholarship Programs Branch, Division of National Health Service
Corps., Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services
Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 4350 East-West
Highway, 10th Floor, Bethesda MD 20814. Public Information Phone: (301)
594-4410. For 24-hour toll-free calls from outside MD: 1-800-638-0824, use for
requesting applications.
Web Site Address: http://www.hrsa.gov
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Scholarships covering tuition, monthly stipends and
payments for other reasonable education expenses made to medical school
students, dental students (3rd & 4th year), as well as for students of
family nurse practitioner, nurse midwifery and physician assistant programs.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Priority will be given to students of allopathic and
osteopathic medicine, who are former recipients of the Federal Scholarship
Program for First-Year Students of Exceptional Financial Need (EFN). Second
priority for consideration will be given to all students who have
characteristics which increase the probability they will continue professional
practice in a Health Professional Shortage Area when they complete their
service obligation. (This includes a primary care specialty preference.) Third
priority will be given to students who are from "disadvantaged
backgrounds.
