Twenty-seven aspiring physicians are the latest cohort to benefit from the University of Arizona Health Sciences Primary Care Physician Scholarship Program, which addresses two critical issues in health care: Arizona’s shortage of primary care physicians and medical students’ rising debt.

The Primary Care Physician Scholarship Program allows medical students to pursue careers in traditionally lower-paying primary care practice without worrying about how they will repay their medical school debt. The scholarships, awarded annually, cover tuition for each recipient and are available to incoming and current students at the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson and the UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. Each scholarship recipient agrees to practice medicine in a federally designated underserved community in Arizona for at least two years and up to four years after graduation and residency training.

This year’s class includes 18 students at the College of Medicine – Tucson and nine at the College of Medicine – Phoenix. The Primary Care Physician Scholarship Program is currently supporting 86 active medical students. Thirty-six scholarship recipients have graduated and are in various stages of their residency training.