Service Program for Doctors Eases Debt

* What I offer in response to “Med Students Seek Cure For Debt” [Nov. 27] is not a “cure,” but rather the opportunity for those who qualify to both act on their commitment to serve others and to relieve their debt burden at the same time.

The National Health Service Corps in the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Bureau of Primary Health Care has matched communities in need with clinicians who care for more than 25 years. Over its history, the NHSC has enabled more than 22,000 primary-care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, dentists and dental hygienists and mental and behavioral health clinicians to “go where others choose not to go,” in frontier, rural and inner-city underserved areas across the United States.

The NHSC Scholarship Program offers full tuition, school-related expenses and a stipend in return for a minimum two-year commitment to serve in an underserved area. The NHSC Loan Repayment Program offers a two-year contract paying up to $25,000 a year (to be applied to repayment of school loans) in return for two years service in an underserved area; the contract may be extended yearly as long as qualified debt remains. The loan repayment contract is over and above the provider’s salary. The NHSC has partnered with 33 states to offer State Loan Repayment Programs that offer incentives similar to the NHSC Loan Repayment Program.

All of these NHSC recruitment programs are highly competitive. But for those who choose to practice primary-care medicine/family practice, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology and general psychiatry and who are dedicated to the ideal of service to the underserved, becoming a NHSC clinician is a great way to make a difference for the millions of Americans who are truly in need.

Dr. DONALD L. WEAVER

Assistant Surgeon General

Director, National Health

Service Corps

Health Resources and Services

Administration

Bethesda, Md.