Description
The Health Professions Scholarship Program
provides financial assistance for American Indian and Alaska
Native (Federally recognized only) students only enrolled
in health professions and allied health professions programs.
For this program, there are service obligations and payback
requirements that the recipient incurs upon acceptance of the
scholarship funding. Priority is given to Graduate Students,
and Junior and Senior Level Students, unless otherwise specified.
Priority Health Career Categories
INDIAN
HEALTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
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Nurse: Associate & Bachelor Degrees
in Psychiatry, Geriatric,
Women's Health, Pediatric
Nursing, Nurse Anesthetist &
Nurse Practitioner. *(Priority
consideration will be given to
Registered Nurses employed by
the Indian Health Service; in a
program assisted under a
contract entered into under the
Indian Self-Determination Act;
or in a program assisted under
Title V of the Indian Health
Care Improvement Act.) |
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Chemical Dependency Counseling:
Baccalaureate and Masters Level
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Coding Specialist: Certificate
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Clinical Psychology: PhD program
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Dental Hygiene: B.S.
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Dentistry: D.D.S + D.M.D
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Diagnostic Radiology Technology:
Certificate, Associate, and B.S.
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Dietitian: B.S.
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Environmental Health & Engineering:
BS |
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Health Care Administration: B.S.
and M.S.
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Health Education: Bachelors &
Masters Level |
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Health Records: R.H.I.T. and
R.H.I.A.
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Injury Prevention Specialist:
Certificate |
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Medical Technology: B.S.
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Medicine: Allopathic and Oseopathic
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Occupational Therapy: BS |
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Optician: Associate Degree |
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Optometry: O.D.
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Pharmacy: Pham. D.
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Physical Therapy Assistant:
Associate degree |
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Physical Therapy: M.S. and D.P.T.
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Physician Assistant: PAC |
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Podiatry: D.P.M.
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Public Health: M.P.H only
(Applicants must be enrolled or
accepted in a school of public
health with concentration in
Epidemiology |
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Public Health Nutrition: Masters
Level only |
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Respiratory Therapy: Associate
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Social Work: Masters level only
(Direct Practice and Clinical
concentrations) |
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Ultrasonography (Prerequisite:
Diagnostic Radiology Technology)
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Specific Requirements
Applicants must:
- be an American Indian or Alaska Native (Federally recognized
only and applicant must be a member of his/her tribe);
- be a high school graduate or equivalent; and
- be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a full or part-time
study program leading to a degree in a health related professions
school within the United States for one of the health career
priority categories listed above.
- Documentation must be received from part-time applicants
that their school and course curriculum allows less than
full-time status.
Limitation of Support
Scholarship for recipients in the Health
Professions Program is available for up to four calendar
years for full-time or up to eight years for part-time
of health professional education. Applicants who are more than
4 years away from securing a degree are not eligible to apply.
Each scholarship is awarded for a 1 year period with reapplication
for each continuation. Those students who meet specific continued
eligibility requirements and have been reviewed and recommended
for continuation will be given priority consideration for additional
periods of support. Scholarship recipients receive 12 months
of support.
Continued Eligibility
A recipient of Health Professions scholarship support must continue
to meet the following eligibility requirements:
- He/she must maintain an overall 2.0 grade point average
in his/her chosen health/allied health professions curriculum;
- he/she must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours for
the next semester/quarter which is considered full-time.
An applicant enrolled in a program with 12 full-time credit
hours or 6� part-time credit hours which is considered
part-time, must submit a letter from their Program Director
verifying the full-time or part-time status of that institution's
graduate level program.
Instructions for Scholarship Contract
Applicants for a Health Professions scholarship support must
submit a signed Indian Health Scholarship Program Contract
(form I H S�8) as part of the application, agreeing
to accept payment of scholarship funds if they are selected
for the award and to enter into a service obligation with the
I H S to provide health services upon completion of their health
education program in the full-time professional practice of
their health profession. Applicants should read this contract
carefully prior to submitting an application for this scholarship
in order to fully understand the obligation they incur by accepting
a Health Professions scholarship.
Deferments
Allopathic and osteopathic physicians can be deferred for up
to 3 years for further training to complete an internship, residency,
or other advanced training as specified by the Indian Health
Service.
Dental Scholarship recipients may begin their obligated service
upon completion of their degree program without receiving any
advanced training. However, 1-year deferments may be approved
to secure advanced clinical training.
Scholarship recipients in pharmacy and optometry may begin their
obligated service upon completion of their degree programs without
receiving any advanced training. However, 1-year deferments
may be approved to secure advanced clinical training.
No deferments will be approved for any other priority health
career categories. A deferment packet containing policies and
procedures will be mailed to all eligible Health Professions
program scholarship recipients in their senior year.
Service Obligation
Subject to applicable regulations and to the Indian Health
Scholarship Program Contract, there is a requirement that
a Health Professions Scholarship Program recipient serve one
year for each year of scholarship support which he/she receives
or the part-time equivalent thereof with a minimum service period
of 2 years. After graduation from the health professions program,
the I H S scholarship recipients must meet their active duty
service obligation in one of the following areas, as designated
by the Director, I H S:
- Indian Health Service (I H S);
- A program conducted under a contract or compact entered
into under the Indian Self-Determination Act (P.L. 93�8),
as amended;
- An Urban Indian organization assisted under Title V of the
Indian Health Care Improvement Act (I H C I A)(P.L. 94�7),
as amended; or
- In private practice in a designated health professional
shortage area addressing the health care needs of a substantial
number of Indians.
However, at their election, scholarship recipients may serve
in one of the other areas that:
- is located on the reservation of the tribe in which the
recipient is enrolled; or
- serves the tribe in which the recipient is enrolled.
The I H S will review assignment opportunities with each student
early in the final school year and will approve the student's
confirmed assignment.
The Director, I H S, reserves the right to make final decisions
regarding assignment of scholarship recipients to fulfill their
service obligation.
Before the service obligation begins, paticipants will be given
information about both the PHS Commissioned Corps and Civil
Service employment systems. For information regarding programs
conducted under a contract entered into under the Indian Self-Determination
Act (P.L. 93�8), or Title V urban programs, scholarship recipients
may contact the Tribal (�8�) program or Title V urban program
directly. The Indian Health Service Scholarship Program (I H
S S P) staff are also available for placement assistance. Once
on duty providing service, the scholarship recipient must submit
an annual data sheet report to the I H S on the current status
of his/her service obligation.
Breach of Contract
Defaulting on the Scholarship Obligation
For Failure To Complete Academic Training Health Professions
Scholarship Program
Participants who are dismissed from school for academic or disciplinary
reasons, or who voluntarily terminate academic training before
graduation from the educational program for which the scholarship
was awarded, will be liable to the United States for repayment
of all Scholarship Program funds paid to them and to the school
on their behalf. Payment must be made within 3 years from the
date academic training is terminated. No interest will be charged
on any part of this indebtedness to the United States within
the 3-year period.
For Failure To Begin or Complete the Service Obligation or
Meet the Terms and Conditions of Deferment
Participants may breach their Scholarship contracts by failing
to begin or complete their service obligations for any reason
other than failure to complete academic training, or by failing
to comply with the terms and conditions for deferment. In these
cases, participants are liable to repay three times the amount
of all scholarship funds paid to them and the school on their
behalf, plus interest.
The amount which the United States is entitled to recover shall
be paid within 1 year of the date upon which the applicant failed
to begin or complete the period of obligated service, or failed
to meet the terms and conditions of deferment, or a longer period
beginning on a date specified by the Secretary of H H S (as
delegated to the Scholarship Program).
Delinquent Debt
If the debt remains unpaid after the due date (delinquent),
it will be referred to the Health Resources and Services Administration
for debt collection and/or the Department of Justice for litigation.
All delinquent debts must be reported to a commercial collection
agency and are subject to charges for administrative and court
costs of collection.
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