Loan Assistance Repayment Program - Primary Care Service

Who may apply: Primary care physicians and medical residents in a residency program specializing in primary care.

Eligible specialties: Primary care refers to general internal medicine, family practice, general pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and general psychiatry.

How to apply: Complete and file a LARP-PCS application available from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH). The Department's web site is: http://www.fha.state.md.us/ohpp/pco_larp.cfm. For information, please contact Judy Gerahty by calling (410) 767-5046 by email at jgerahty@dhmh.state.md.us.

When to apply: Beginning February 1, 2010

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

If you are a physician, you must have a valid unrestricted license to practice medicine in Maryland and work in an approved underserved area in Maryland. If you are a medical resident, you must have at least one year remaining in a residency program specializing in primary care. You must have outstanding eligible higher education loans. You cannot be in default on a loan or have incomplete service obligations.

Applicants Must:

be a physician who engages in primary care at an eligible practice site, or is a medical resident specializing in primary care who agrees to practice at an eligible practice site;

have received a graduate, professional, or undergraduate degree from a college or university in the State of Maryland OR from a medical school;

be a citizen or national of the United States;

be a resident of the State of Maryland at the time the service obligation begins;

have a valid unrestricted license to practice medicine in the State of Maryland at the time the service obligation begins;

have not breached an obligation for service to a federal, state, or local governmental entity;

have no unserved obligations for service to a federal, state, local government, or other entity, with the exception of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Primary Care Loans, Exceptional Financial Need Scholarships, and Financial Assistance for Disadvantaged Health Professions Students;

be employed full-time (at least 40 hours per week) at an eligible practice site; and

have outstanding higher education loans and NOT be in default on any eligible higher education loan. (This information is subject to lender verification.)

FINANCIAL NEED

This award is not based on need.

AWARD AMOUNT

Physicians will receive between $25,000 and $30,000 per year, depending on the length of their service commitment. The total award to medical residents may not exceed $25,000. Funds may not be available to award all eligible applicants.

RENEWING AN AWARD

You may re-apply for this award after completion of the service obligation. Recipient’s total award amount cannot exceed $120,000.

SERVICE OBLIGATION

You must sign and return a promissory note agreeing to serve full-time as a primary care physician in an underserved area in Maryland for a period of two to four years. You must be a resident of Maryland at the time the service obligation begins. Physicians must begin their service obligation within three months of the close of the fiscal year in which the contract is executed. Medical residents must begin their service obligation within three (3) months of completion of training. If you hold this scholarship with any other award requiring a service obligation, you must perform your service in consecutive years.

Application is available at:

http://www.fha.state.md.us/ohpp/pco_larp.cfm

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Maryland Higher Education Commission