Federal Scholarship Programs
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC)
The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, covers tuition and fees, and provides a monthly stipend ($1,182/month in 2007-2008) and an annual allowance for other reasonable expenses in exchange for service in a federally-designated and usually rural physician shortage area of the United States.
Recipients incur one year of service for each year of full or partial funding, with a minimum of two years of required service. Prior NHSC scholarship recipients are given priority consideration. In addition, priority for selection is given to applicants who are committed to primary care specialties such as family practice, general internal medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics-gynecology. NHSC scholarship recipients are required to pay federal taxes on the entire amount of the scholarship.
For the 2007-2008 year, roughly 1,500 applicants competed for 100 scholarship awards, not including renewals. Please note that the 2008-2009 application is expected to be available electronically at the end of May 2008.
The Office of Admissions and Financial Aid office maintains a list of current and former NHSC recipients who would be happy to share their experiences in the program. If you wish to receive this list, please contact OAFA at md_finaid@brown.edu. Additional information regarding the NHSC Scholarship Program may be obtained by calling or writing to:
NHSC Scholarship Program
c/o Discovery Logic
1375 Picard Drive, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20850
(800) 638-0824
> View NHSC Scholarship Program
The Indian Health Service (IHS) Program
The Indian Health Service (IHS) Program offers scholarships similar to the NHSC Program. IHS scholarships include tuition, supplies, a book allowance, and a monthly stipend. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are federally recognized American Indians or Alaskan Natives. Students interested in obtaining more information may write or call:
IHS Scholarship Program
801 Thompson Avenue, Suite 120
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 443-6197; FAX (301) 443-6048
> View IHS Scholarship Program
Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)
The Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) offers scholarships through the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force. These one-, two-, three- and four-year scholarships cover all direct educational costs (i.e., tuition, fees, books, health insurance) and provide a stipend of approximately $1,900 per month for ten and one-half months per year. In return, there is a service commitment of one year of active duty service for each year of participation in the program, with a minimum commitment of three years.
During the in-school period, HPSP recipients are commissioned as reserve officers and must maintain satisfactory academic standing. While there is no obligation to participate in reserve activities during this time, recipients are required to attend a 45-day Active Duty Training (ADT) each year designed for medical students at military hospitals and medical centers. During the 45-day tour, students are paid as commissioned officers. HPSP participants are required to apply for the military's First Year Graduate Medical Education Programs (FYGME-internship) and, if selected, must participate. Students not selected may have the option of completing one year or the entire residency in a civilian program. Occasionally, waivers are granted to allow students to complete the entire residency in a civilian program. For more information regarding the HPSP, contact the following recruiters:
U.S. Air Force
SrA Jake Turcotte
Health Professions Recruiter
United States Air Force
244 Weybosset Street
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 331-2046
Jacob.turcotte@rs.af.milU.S. Army
Mycle Mcconnehey
U.S. Army Health Care Recruiter
Barnes Building, Room #112
Boston, MA 02210-2182
(877) 834-4516 toll-free
FAX: (617) 753-4836
mycle.mcconnehey@usarec.army.milU.S. Navy
Lt. Jill Malderelli
Medical Programs Recuiter
485 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210-2103
(617) 894-7689
FAX: (617) 453-3369
Jill.Maldarelli@navy.mil
The Rhode Island Air National Guard Program (RIANG)
The Rhode Island Air National Guard Program (RIANG) offers a direct commissioning program for medical students interested in (a) obtaining an Air Force commission, (b) aerospace medicine, (c) training to become a flight surgeon while training in the medical specialty of their choice, (d) service with the National Guard, and (e) any combination of the above.
Students who receive a commission have the option of receiving a stipend from the Guard upon entering a qualifying residency program and/or a student loan repayment program after obtaining a full medical licensure. Presently the Guard will pay up to $28,000 per year in GI Bill benefits and pay up to $20,000 per year on loan repayments. Regardless of stipend/loan repayment options, students will also receive up to $5,300 per year for service of one weekend a month (16 hours), throughout medical school with no further obligation incurred if participating for all four years. For more information about this program contact:
Joseph Guerriero
MPSC/Army National Guard
jmgue@beld.net
(571) 641-9032
Colonel James Hennessey, M.D.
M R.I. State Air Surgeon Guard
james.hennessey@brown.edu
Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)
Funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) Program provides awards to students who come from an environment that inhibits individuals from obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities required to enroll in and graduate from a medical school. The SDS Program also considers students who come from a families with annual incomes below low-income thresholds, according to family size, as published annually by the U.S. Bureau of the Census (http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/08poverty.shtml). Alpert Medical School made SDS awards to twenty-six students in the 2007-2008 year. There is no separate application for this scholarship; students who apply for institutional funding are automatically considered for it but must include income and asset data on the FAFSA and the Need Access Form.