EDUCATION AWARDS

The Outstanding Rural Scholar Recognition Program (ORSRP) 
ORSRP is designed to assist rural communities in “growing their own” health care professionals by matching community funds with state funds to support a student of the community’s choice in a health professional education program.  Fifty percent of the student’s educational expenses are contributed by the sponsoring rural community and the remainder is provided by the State Office of Rural Health (SORH). For each year the student receives funds through the program, the student provides a year of health care in the sponsoring rural community.

Research shows that retention of rural health care providers is greater if the provider is from a rural community.  ORSRP is an opporunity to increase your retention rates for rural clinicians. 

The Rural Communities Healthcare Investment Program (RCHIP)
RCHIP is designed to attract and retain healthcare professionals in rural communities by providing incentives such as stipends or loan repayment assistance to non-physician healthcare professionals who agree to practice in rural medically underserved areas.  RCHIP awards are competitive and contingent on availability of funds.


EXPEDITED LICENSE REQUESTS

Physicians who hold medical licenses from another state may apply for an expedited license when they plan to practice in an underserved and/or rural area in Texas.  The Texas Medical Board is the licensing body for the state of Texas and requires a statement from the State Office of Rural Health verifying the status of the intended practice site for expedited license applicants.  Physicians applying for an expedited license may contact Amanda Maedgen or Ada Grant for assistance.

JOB POSTING

SORH supports the efforts of the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet), an on-line job posting site dedicated exclusively for rural medical job posters and seekers.  Registration on the site is free.  The service is free to both employers and job seekers.

SORH also supports Texas Health Match, an on-line job posting site that is dedicated to medical positions in Texas.  Postings on this site are not limited to rural positions.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

SORH supports continuing education credit training opportunities at health.edu through the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.  For employees of critical access hospitals, courses through health.edu are free.  For other rural health providers, the courses have a minimal fee. 

UTA

Peer Review

EDUCATION AWARDS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

• National Health Service Corps 

National Health Service Corps is a loan repayment program for primary care clinicians working in underserved areas.  To find out if you qualify for the National Health Service Corps Program, contact the Texas Primary Care Office at (512) 458-7518.

• National Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Student loan balances can be forgiven after 120 consecutive on-time payments if you have been working in public service for that period (10 years).  Public service is defined as working for a nonprofit 501c3 organization or for a public entity (i.e. local, state or federal government service).  If you are working in the medical field and your employer does not fit one of the two above categories, you may apply for eligibility to this program on a case-by-case basis.  Please visit the "National Public Service Loan Forgiveness" link above for more information.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Education Award Links:

• State and Federal Grants and Scholarships 
• Private/Corporate Grants and Scholarships 
• Loan Repayment Programs