National Health Service Offers Student Loan Repayment Program

National Health Service Corps (NHSC)/State Loan Repayment Program Information

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC)/State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP), administered by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, has received a grant for $2 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to repay outstanding government and commercial loans for expenses incurred during undergraduate or graduate education.

Up to $85,000 in funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis for qualified primary healthcare providers who commit to a three-year service obligation at a public or private non-profit facility that is located in a Health Professional Shortage Area. Each facility is required to pay a matching grant, meaning that $42,500 is paid by the State, and $42,500 is paid by the facility.

This special NHSC/SLRP cycle ends on September 29, 2010 or when funds are expended, whichever comes first. You must be fully licensed, working full-time (40 hours per week) in order to apply for this program, and interns are not eligible. Qualifying primary care professionals include:

œ Licensed Mental or Behavioral Health Professionals: Clinical or Counseling Psychologists, Clinical Social Workers, Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, or Psychiatric Nurse Specialists
œ Allopathic or Osteopathic Physicians specializing in Family Medicine, General Pediatrics, General Internal Medicine, General Psychiatry, Gerontology, or Obstetrics and Gynecology
œ Primary Care Nurse Practitioners
œ Primary Care Physician Assistants
œ Certified Nurse Mid-Wives
œ Dentists
œ Dental Hygienists

Please note that you can only commit to one service obligation at a time and must complete any existing service obligations prior to accepting a new contract for this program. You can find additional program information at: http://www.oshpd.ca.gov/HWDD/SLRP.html. Please review the website and online application.

Please contact Kristen Meza at [email protected] or at (916) 326-3745 if you have any questions regarding the program or the application process. She can also help you determine whether or not your facility will qualify for the program if you send her the name and address of the site.

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