Funding Resources for Practicing in Underserved Areas

Providing health care to underserved communities has long been a major concern. The lack of physicians and health care resources severely compromises health promotion and disease prevention activities, which in turn leads to a poor health status for inner-city and rural populations. The plight of inner-city and rural communities is a problem that medical educators, policy makers, state governments, hospitals and managed care initiatives are having to attack with increased intensity. Until the United States significantly enhances its efforts toward health care reform, adequate health care will continue to be an illusion in urban and rural areas. There simply are not enough physicians -- particularly family physicians -- serving these communities.

There is a great need to improve the distribution, supply, quality, utilization and efficiency of health personnel in underserved areas. Financial aid programs, scholarships, fellowships, grants, awards and other incentives to attract and retain health care workers can be found through such sources as the Association of American Medical Colleges' (AAMC) database of loan repayment/forgiveness programs.

Physicians are also able to help by joining the National Health Service Corps and agreeing to work in a federally designated Health Professions Shortage Area (HPSA).

Other sources of information on these programs include Area Health Education Centers (AHECs), school financial aid offices and state government Web sites, such as the Departments of Health or Higher Education.