SOMA Osteopathic Medicine
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Scholarships and Awards
Outside Sources
Scholarship Links
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Outside Sources
Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) - Army, Navy, and Air Force
- Pays full tuition and fees
- Pays for required books, supplies and equipment, and student health insurance
- Pays a monthly stipend of approximately $1,300.
- Year for year obligation-student owes one year of service for each year he/she received benefits.
National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program
- http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/
- Toll-Free Help Line 1-800-221-9393
- Pays full tuition and fees
- Pays for required books, supplies and equipment, and student health insurance
- Pays monthly stipend of approximately $1,300
- Year for year obligation
- Student MUST practice primary care (family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, psychiatry, or ob/gyn) AND serve in an underserved area of the country
- Two-year minimum
- This scholarship will not be available until the first class graduates
- Application deadline last Friday in March
Indian Health Service Scholarship Program
- www.ihs.gov
- Toll-Free Help Line 1-800-221-9393
- Pays full tuition and fees
- Pays for required books, supplies and equipment, and student health insurance
- Pays monthly stipend of approximately $1,300
- Year for year obligation
- Two-year minimum
- Must have tribal papers
National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
- After student completes medical school and residency (at own expense)
- Repays up to $25,000/year on educational loans for 1st two years of service
- Repays up to $35,000/year on educational loans for additional one-year extensions of service
- Must be practicing family medicine, general pediatrics, general internal medicine, general psychiatry, or ob/gyn AND must be located in an underserved area
- Two-year minimum
Arizona Student Medical Loan Program
2008-2009 Application Form 
2008-2009 Renewal Application Form
This program provides educational loans sponsored by the State of Arizona, repaid in service in an eligible area in Arizona as a licensed physician. Minimum two-year service commitment required.
Service will be full-time practice in any of the following locations, as defined in A.R.S. § 15-1721:
- A rural AND medically underserved area of Arizona.
- A medically underserved area of Arizona.
- A medically underserved population of Arizona.
- Any Indian Reservation that is located in Arizona.
Loan funding for one or two years has a two-year service commitment. Above the two-year minimum, the commitment is one year of service for each year of funding received (e.g. if you receive funding for four years, you will have a four-year service commitment).
There is a maximum of five years of funding granted.
If the service commitment is not met, the loan must be repaid in full at 7% interest plus liquidated damages. Liquidated damages are an amount equivalent to the full amount borrowed including tuition (e.g. if you borrow $35,000 and do not fulfill the service commitment, you will repay $35,000 at 7% interest plus $35,000 in liquidated damages). Payment in full is due within one year of the time that the decision was made not to serve or that service would have begun, whichever is later. Simply said, don't take the funding unless you are serious about service.
Students at three colleges in Arizona currently qualify for consideration: students seeking an M.D. degree at University of Arizona College of Medicine; students seeking a D.O. degree at Midwestern University's Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM) or D.O. candidates at A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA). Students must be classified as Arizona residents under the state law classifying students for tuition purposes (A.R.S. 15-1802).
The minimum amount of funding per year is the amount of medical school tuition ($15,786 for 2006-2007 at University of Arizona College of Medicine). The law also allows for a living allowance up to $20,000. The maximum loan, which may vary yearly, is set by law and is subject to the availability of funds. In 2006-2007, the maximum amount approved by the Board of Medical Student Loans is $35,786 for University of Arizona College of Medicine students.
The loan contract is for one year with funding reviewed annually and students must reapply each year to the Board of Medical Student Loans. However, students continuing on the program are given priority consideration by the Board.
Upon graduation, the borrower is expected to complete a residency program in family practice, obstetrics/gynecology, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, or combined medicine and pediatrics, unless the Board has approved the recipient for another specialty of recognized need in Arizona.
No later than three years after graduation or four years if required by the residency program (e.g. obstetrics and gynecology), the physician will obtain a license and begin the service commitment.
Applicant is expected to apply for financial aid utilizing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply for the program through his/her University’s Office of Student Financial Aid. The Arizona Medical Student Loan Program gives preference to qualified applicants who demonstrate a commitment to serve in underserved areas, and who intend to become board certified in family practice, general pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, general internal medicine, or combined medicine and pediatrics.The Board may consider other specialties of recognized need in the State of Arizona but the specialty must be approved by the Board. Preference is given to applicants who want to practice medicine in Arizona, would prefer an Arizona residency program, and who demonstrate financial need.
Student Requirements
- Classified as an Arizona resident
- Admitted/attending University of Arizona's College of Medicine, Midwestern University's Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, or A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona.
- Desire to be a physician in Arizona serving the medically underserved.
- Committed to family practice, obstetrics/gynecology, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, or combined medicine and pediatrics; any other specialty must be approved by the Board of Medical Student Loans in advance and must be of recognized need in the State of Arizona. As a physician during the service commitment, the recipient must practice in an eligible service area in Arizona approved by the Board of Medical Student Loans.
Apply using the Arizona Medical Student Loan Program Application to the Board of Medical Student Loans and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Sample Contract
Domicile Affidavit
Osteopathic students at A.T. Still University's School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, contact: Debbie Richards, Asst. Director for Financial Services, A.T. Still University, 5850 E. Still Circle, Mesa, AZ 85206. (480) 219-6117, drichards01@atsu.edu
USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships
USA Funds will award more than 2,100 new, renewable USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships to qualified students nationwide for the 2007-08 academic year. In addition to the new scholarships, USA Funds will award renewal scholarships to previous recipients who qualify.
The program offers $1,500 scholarships to qualified full-time graduate and professional students. Applicants for the scholarships must be enrolled or plan to enroll in coursework at accredited two-or four-year colleges, universities or vocational/technical schools beginning with the fall-2007 term through Feb. 1. 2008. The program assists students from households with annual incomes of $35,000 or less.
For complete eligibility information and to apply online, students should visit www.usafunds.org/scholarships on USA Funds' Website. The application deadline is Feb. 15, 2008.