Healthcare Grants

Students who are seeking careers as physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are in luck; there are a wide variety of healthcare grants available, many from the federal government. The availability of college and trade school grants in health sciences are in everybody's interest, as healthcare is a vital sector of the nation's economy. Personnel shortages in family practice, medicine, nursing, and rural healthcare loom large. Grants for those entering the healthcare field are one way to facilitate the training of qualified doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers.

Government Grants
Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program

For students who are financially needy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program. In order to be eligible for this grant, students need to be citizens of the U.S. or its territories; make sure that their school participates in the program; and come from an environment that is economically or otherwise disadvantaged (for example, from a family with income below a certain threshold.) These grants can cover various educational needs, including tuition and living expenses, and are available to students in a wide variety of medical specialties. Areas of study include but are not limited to dentistry, optometry, osteopathy, pharmacy, nursing, allied health professions, and physician assistant programs.

National Health Service Corps Scholarships

Students who wish to serve patients in high need areas (federally designated locations where there is a shortage of healthcare professionals) may obtain National Health Service Corps Scholarships. These cover tuition and other educational expenses, such as textbooks, and include a monthly stipend. Those who receive these scholarships are required to serve one year in such an area for each year of aid they receive, with a minimum service commitment of two years. NHSC scholarships are awarded to students enrolled in accredited programs for medical school, dental school, nurse practitioner programs, nurse-midwifery programs, and physician assistant programs. Medical school students who receive these scholarships are expected to have residencies in family medicine, pediatric medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, or general internal medicine.

Native American Healthcare Grants

The Indian Health Service division of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department offers various grant opportunities to Native American students. One such scholarship is the Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship Program, which provides funds for students to enroll in basic skills programs in order to gain entry into healthcare programs. Another is the Health Professions Pre-Graduate Scholarship Program, which funds undergraduates in pre-medical or pre-dentistry programs. Finally, there is the Health Professions Scholarship program; students who receive funds through this program are obliged to "give back" by fulfilling a service requirement.

Undergraduate Scholarship Program

Academically gifted students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are interested in healthcare research may be eligible for the Undergraduate Scholarship Program from the National Institutes of Health. This program includes paid summer research experiences and paid training after graduation, as well as substantial funds for undergraduate tuition and living expenses.

Other Opportunities

Other opportunities include healthcare grants for students who volunteer at Veterans Affairs medical centers, need-based grants awarded based on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and other scholarships offered by colleges and universities.

Students who are interested in pursuing medicine, dentistry, nursing, or allied health professions have ample opportunities to find funding that will help them pursue their dreams and help all citizens receive the healthcare they need.

Article References

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Scholarships: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/dsa/index.htm
Grants: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/grants/default.htm
Indian Health Service: http://www.grants.ihs.gov/

National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program
https://ugsp.nih.gov/

National Health Services Corps Scholarship Applications
http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/applications/

United States Department of Veterans Affairs
http://www.volunteer.va.gov/StudentProgram.asp

American Association of Colleges of Nursing
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/FactSheets/NursingShortage.htm

The Wall Street Journal
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/05/12/doctor -shortage-is-coming-on-like-a-freight-train/

Veterans Affairs Medical Centers
http://www.volunteer.va.gov/ParkeScholarship.asp

FAFSA
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/