TUCSON, Ariz. — A chance for free tuition is now available at the University of Arizona for primary care medical students.
Currently, Arizona meets only 40-percent of its need for primary care physicians, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. To overcome that shortage today, the state needs close to 600 primary care doctors - an amount UArizona College of Medicine is hoping it can contribute to with its new scholarship program.
"Its intention is to serve the current and growing primary care physician shortage within the state. The scholarship will cover tuition for Arizona medical students, in exchange for their service and commitment to practice in primary care," said Jessica Le Duc, the director of financial aid for UArizona College of Medicine.
That practice must be in one of several areas in the state suffering from a doctor shortage.
This scholarship offer is available for 100 College of Medicine students at the Tucson and Phoenix campuses.
"The cost of attaining medical education is one of the top stressors for medical students. So the Primary Care Physician Scholarship Program helps alleviate that financial burden," said Le Duc.
To be eligible, applicants must be a current full-time medical student enrolled at UArizona and be an Arizona resident. But for those who are not residents of the state just yet, there's still a chance to qualify.
"The cost of attaining medical education is one of the top stressors for medical students. So the Primary Care Physician Scholarship Program helps alleviate that financial burden," said Le Duc.
The applications are now live for the college of medicine in Tucson and in Phoenix for spring 2020. Winners will be announced in January.
