This program functions as forgivable student loan payable to the institution

Loan Forgiveness Program

The Rural Practice Loan Forgiveness Program was developed to help supplement the healthcare workforce in South Carolina, especially rural, underserved areas. Students from all publicly affiliated South Carolina medical and health professions schools are eligible for this statewide program.

Program Overview

The American Association of Medical Colleges projects a total physician shortfall of between 40,800 and 104,900 physicians nationwide by 2030. In South Carolina, 45 of 46 counties currently have designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).

Given the ongoing need for physicians in underserved portions of South Carolina, the loan forgiveness program will be awarded to health profession students who commit to practice in a primary care or critical need specialties in rural South Carolina.

Given the ongoing need for physicians in underserved portions of South Carolina, this loan forgiveness program will be awarded to medical students who commit to practice in a primary care or critical need specialties in rural South Carolina.

The SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare offers a loan award of up to $150,000 in direct educational costs (i.e. tuition, fees) over the course of the four year educational program.

Loan forgiveness award recipients will agree to practice in a primary care or a critical need specialty within a rural area of South Carolina upon completion of residency. Term of service will be for a minimum of four www.getbadcreditloan.com/payday-loans-ga/elberton/ (4) years for MD graduates. Priily medicine, primary care internal medicine, primary care pediatrics, primary care internal medicine/pediatrics. Critical need specialties are defined as obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry and general surgery.

The SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare will designate approved practice locations. Factors considered in assigning approved practice sites will include county population density, underserved areas as defined by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, healthcare provider density, chronic disease burden and other community health factors.

The loan will be

serviced through the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation. Recipients agree to pay back any loan funds received, plus interest and penalties, if they choose a practice specialty other than those specified above or do not practice in an approved site in South Carolina for the entire commitment time.

Loan forgiveness recipients will be expected to sign a commitment agreement, which further defines the expectations and requirements related to acceptance of this award. As part of the commitment agreement, recipients will sign a promissory note for the value of the loan received. Annual attestations will be required during medical school, residency and during the commitment term to verify program adherence.

The SC Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare is partnered with the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation in order to administrate the program and facilitate the necessary follow-up with each of participating student. Program Criteria

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Open to all applicants regardless of residency since obligation to practice in South Carolina is stipulated in the agreement
• Be eligible to obtain appropriate professional licensure in South Carolina
• Enrollment in accredited, state affiliated health professions school located in South Carolina
• Maintaining good academic and professional standing in health professions programs. Students on academic or professional probation/remediation will be reviewed by the program and may lose the ability to participate.
• Commitment to practice in approved priily Medicine, General Pediatrics, General Internal Medicine, General Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Or critical need specialties: Obstetrics/Gynecology, General Psychiatry, General Surgery
• Preference will be given to students from underserved/rural areas and/or those who are minorities underrepresented in medicine. Preference will also be given to South Carolina residents.
• The applicant will not have another current service obligations to the Federal Government (e.g., National Health Service Corps, Military Service Obligations), or a State, or another entity prior to the beginning the program. The applicant will not have defaulted on any previous service obligations to the Federal Government or State of South Carolina.