Definitions for primary care typically refer to family physicians, general internists or general pediatricians. However, for the purposes of this scholarship, we also include three other critical access specialties — psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, and geriatric medicine — due to particular shortages in these specialties in Arizona. Thus, this scholarship considers a “primary care physician” as someone who has successfully completed medical school at the University of Arizona and completed residency or fellowship training in one of the following specialties:
- Family medicine.
- General internal medicine.
- Geriatric medicine.
- General pediatrics.
- General surgery.
- Obstetrics and gynecology.
- Psychiatry.
Regions within every Arizona county have received at least one of three federal designations:
- Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).
- Medically Underserved Area (MUA).
- Medically Underserved Population (MUP).
These shortage areas are determined and managed by the Bureau of Health Professions within the Health Resources and Services Administration who identify geographic areas or specific populations within those areas that lack adequate health care resources. The resources available in a given area are evaluated based on physician supply relative to population size — although numerous other factors are also considered.
Eligible applicants for the scholarship must:
- Be admitted or enrolled as a full-time medical student at the College of Medicine – Phoenix.
- Have completed and submitted their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and, to the greatest extent practicable, sought and accepted all other non-loan aid for which they qualify.
- For example, American Medical Association scholarships, Indian Health Service scholarships, the American Medical Women’s Association Medical Education scholarship or other private scholarships.
For fall 2022, the application deadline for newly admitted students is April 3. For new students admitted later in the cycle, current medical students and Pathways graduates, the deadline is May 31. Both deadlines are at 11:59 p.m. Arizona time on their respective dates.
New student awardees will be notified on April 15, 2023. Currently enrolled medical students, new students admitted later in the cycle, and Pathways graduates will be notified on June 15, 2023.
The scholarship will be awarded in conjunction with any other offered financial aid for the Academic Year (AY) and disbursed to the student Bursar's account for the fall and spring semesters. If a student has accepted other financial aid in excess of the Primary Care Scholarship, and the total aid disbursed exceeds charges, a refund will generate based on the selected Bursar's refund options. The Primary Care Scholarship, in combination of other aid, cannot be offered in excess of the cost of attendance and will not generate a supplemental refund. When a student has been awarded to the cost of attendance, the scholarship will replace the loans first.
By accepting this scholarship, you will be required to maintain continuous enrollment as a full-time medical student in the University, and you must also maintain satisfactory academic progress. These standards are described in the University catalog. If you cease to be enrolled as a medical student at the University of Arizona, your scholarship will convert to a personal, interest-bearing loan; and you will be required to reimburse the University for the total scholarship amount received.
No. Once you have been awarded a scholarship through this program, it will continue to cover all tuition throughout the remainder of your time in medical school; this is provided you maintain satisfactory academic progress and continue to pursue a specialty in primary care or other critical access specialty, as defined by the University of Arizona.
Medical school tuition at UArizona is $36,075* (in-state) and $55,269* (out-of-state) per year.
*These costs may fluctuate on a yearly basis.