GME Fellowship Expansion Grant - Rural Health Transformation Program

GME Fellowship Expansion Grant - Rural Health Transformation Program

The Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce (GBHCW) announces the availability of grant funding to support the expansion of Graduate Medical Education (GME) Fellowship programs across rural Georgia through the Rural Health Transformation Program.

This initiative provides funding to rural hospitals, health systems, and academic partners to expand existing Fellowship programs by increasing Fellowship positions. The goal is to strengthen Georgia’s physician workforce by:

  • Increasing training capacity in high-need specialties
  • Expanding Fellowship opportunities in rural communities
  • Improving long-term physician retention in underserved areas

Funding supports a net increase in filled Fellowship slots that serve rural counties and train physicians in core specialties critical to Georgia’s healthcare workforce needs.

Fellows supported under this program must complete training and commit to practicing in Georgia for a combined training and practice duration of at least five (5) years.

Program Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Net Increase Requirement

  • Programs must demonstrate a net increase in Fellowship positions using January 1, 2026, as the baseline.
  • Funding is available only for new Fellowship slots that result in an actual increase in filled positions.

Available Slots & Funding Amount

  • Up to 12 Fellowship slots are available statewide in approved areas.
  • Each approved Fellowship slot will receive $200,000 per PGY year.
  • Funding is distributed in two semi-annual payments of $100,000 each.
  • Funding may be awarded for up to three (3) years per Fellowship slot.

Payment Structure

Funds will be paid directly to the Fellowship program by GBHCW and are contingent upon required validation and reporting.

For each PGY year:

  • $100,000 will be issued at the start of the first six-month period.
  • $100,000 will be issued at the start of the second six-month period.

In the final PGY year:

  • The first $100,000 installment will be issued at the start of the PGY year.
  • The final $100,000 installment will be released only after verification that the Fellow:
    • Successfully completed the Fellowship program, and
    • Secured employment in Georgia serving rural patients.

Allowable Use of Funds

Grant funds may be used for:

  • Fellowship salaries and/or benefits
  • Teaching faculty salary (teaching portion only)
  • Clinic diagnostic equipment for patient care (up to $50,000)
  • Fellow education, including conferences and related educational expenses

Payment Timeline

Payments will begin November 1, 2026, and will continue every six months thereafter for no more than two (2) years per funding cycle.

Eligible Fellowship Sub-Specialties

Priority will be given to programs within the following specialties:

  • Internal Medicine
  • Family Medicine
  • Pediatrics
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN)
  • General Surgery
  • Geriatrics
  • Psychiatry
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Neurology

Programs in other sub-specialties may apply and will be considered based on demonstrated workforce need and program merit.

Eligible Locations

The training program must be physically located in an eligible Georgia hospital under the Rural Health Transformation Program.

View eligible hospitals here:
Georgia’s Application to the RHT Program | Georgia Department of Community Health
(See “Value-Based Care Model Eligible Hospitals”)

Program Notifications & Deadlines

  • Programs must notify GBHCW of their intent to increase Fellowship positions no later than March 15, 2026 using the application below.
  • GBHCW will notify approved sites beginning April 10, 2026, on a rolling basis.
  • Programs must comply with NRMP deadlines and notify NRMP of any rank order list increases.
  • Within five (5) business days of Match Day, programs must notify GBHCW confirming whether additional Fellowship slots were successfully filled.
  • All program questions must be submitted by close of business March 1, 2026.

Application Cycles

(Future cycles subject to CMS funding and award)

  • Cycle 1: February 2026 – October 2026
  • Cycle 2: November 2026 – August 2027
  • Cycle 3: September 2027 – August 2028
  • Cycle 4: September 2028 – August 2029
  • Cycle 5: September 2029 – August 2030

Purpose of Funds

Consistent with state budget authorization, grant funds are intended to expand Fellowship training capacity in rural Georgia so more patients can access specialty care closer to home.

Questions

Please submit questions to:
Chet Bhasin, Executive Director
[email protected]

Allow up to five (5) business days for a response.