September 01, 2017
GBPW opens application process for 2018 service-cancelable loan repayment programs
The Georgia Board for Physician Workforce is now accepting applications for its physician, dentist, physician assistant, and advanced practice registered nurse service-cancelable loan repayment programs for 2018. These programs pay debt incurred toward the completion of educational degrees for practitioners who agree to practice or who are already practicing full-time in an underserved, rural county in Georgia with a population of 35,000 or less according to data from the most recent U.S. Census.
“The Board is proud to administer these important programs and assist rural practitioners,” GBPW Chairman Antonio Rios, M.D. said. “Since the physician program’s inception over 20 years ago, the retention rate for recipients who continue to practice in rural areas after completion in this program hovers around 67 percent, so the Board believes these programs play a vital role in attracting and retaining practitioners to rural Georgia.”
Physician and dentist recipients are eligible for $25,000 per year up to four years, while PA and APRN recipients are awarded $10,000 per year up to four years. The recipient has to agree to a 12-month commitment for each year of the award with at least 40 hours per week of rural, clinical practice.
The application period will run from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 on the GBPW’s website. All applications collected will be reviewed by the GBPW at its quarterly meeting in January 2018. In total, awards will be given to 36 physicians, 12 dentists, and 40 PAs and APRNs.
In 2017, the GBPW awarded 25 physician loan repayments, eight dentist loan repayments, 20 APRN, and PA loan repayments which provided over 43 different rural Georgia counties with much-needed access to care.
More information, including applications and full program eligibility requirements, can be found on the GBPW’s website by clicking https://gbpw.georgia.gov/loan-repayment-programs.