NHSC Placement

[Peace&Health]

If you received an NHSC scholarship and finished med school, can you tell those of us who are in the process of applying how much choice or restriction a recipient has in where to serve after your medical school education?

Thanks!

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[docmz]

yes yes

i have the same questions. i received my application packet, but have yet to fill it out because i am afraid that i will be restricting myself from the get go. i guess i just hate the idea of an agency saying, "you must go here and do this"...so if anyone could clarify these possible misconceptions it would be great.
thanks!!!!!!!!!

If you received an NHSC scholarship and finished med school, can you tell those of us who are in the process of applying how much choice or restriction a recipient has in where to serve after your medical school education?

Thanks!

 

[Karhu]

i just sent in my application for NHSC and I'm concerned about how it all works for payment. if i get the scholarship, they won't even pay out the money until november. i'm not sure how patient schools are with waiting for the payment. also, we won't even find out if we have the scholarship until after school begins. i'm wondering if i get the scholarship if i'll have to apply for a loan to pay for the first year anyway. ahhhhh. i'm still totally down with NHCS and I think that placement isn't a big deal...however, if you are worried that you may be kerplunked in the podunks it may be wise to think about other outlets. i know that FAME in maine has a loan repayment program, so maybe you could look into one in your home state.

 

[jhug]

go to this site:
http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/jobs/search_form.cfm
enter physician, your field of interest, and be sure to select NHSC Opportunities for Scholars...there is a list of places that have applied to be considered underserved. So you do have a choice, you don't just get "kerplunked"🙂 it is just limited to that list of sites.
This is not financial aid!🙂 you are making a commitment that will be worth almost $200K up front...the NHSC will make sure they get their end of the commitment...and if you don't find a job from that list they will work with you to "kerplunk" you somewhere.
so if you are not sure about living in an area that is on the list of approved health shortage areas, or if you are not sure about primary care i would really think this through before applying/accepting the scholarship.

Your school should be just fine with it...you find out in aug/sept if you got the scholarship so your school will know they'll get their money🙂 as for the first big check, it comes in nov. but is retro to june or july which means you get over $5K in stipends plus your $$ for books/supplies and OTC (other resonable costs)

 

[PublicEnemy]

so you get first crack at all the listed sites right? you get a chance to land a job at one of the approved places, its not like you're automatically assigned somewhere right?. if you can't land something on your own, then you go where they tell you to go? can someone clarify this? whats the big deal with these places? i mean a lot of them are hospitals in big cities or underserved parts of big cities or populous areas. do physicians at these sites get competetive salaries? is compensation a big issue with practicing in underserved areas?

 

[jhug]

you apply/interview for those positions along with everyone else, you don't get preferential treatment because you are a scholar...along those lines, it is illegal for a site to pay you less because you are a scholar...they must pay you the going rate for the area.

There are two phases to the "placement"
First, you actively search and land a job (i think this is around the middle of your last year of residency) and the NHSC gives it their stamp of approval by "assigning/placing" you there.
Phase 2 begins if come May (i think) you don't have a job lined up yet. The NHSC will meet with you and go over ideas & areas you would like (and not like) to work and they will do their best to place you somewhere you will be happy. The whole goal of this process is to get you somewhere you WANT to stay. That way, they are one physician closer to not being underserved. It does the area/program no good if after 2, 3 or four years you are dying to get out.

 

[Peace&Health]

you apply/interview for those positions along with everyone else, you don't get preferential treatment because you are a scholar...along those lines, it is illegal for a site to pay you less because you are a scholar...they must pay you the going rate for the area.

There are two phases to the "placement"
First, you actively search and land a job (i think this is around the middle of your last year of residency) and the NHSC gives it their stamp of approval by "assigning/placing" you there.
Phase 2 begins if come May (i think) you don't have a job lined up yet. The NHSC will meet with you and go over ideas & areas you would like (and not like) to work and they will do their best to place you somewhere you will be happy. The whole goal of this process is to get you somewhere you WANT to stay. That way, they are one physician closer to not being underserved. It does the area/program no good if after 2, 3 or four years you are dying to get out.

I appreciate your taking the time to shed some light on this matter!

 

[Sharon Lee]

I wasn't aware that the NHSC had so much flexibility. I was actually thinking that I was not going to try for the scholarship because I was worried about being placed somewhere where I would not be happy. I've heard that it goes by region; that you are allowed to choose a region and they place you somewhere within that region.

I know that on the application there are references made to regions where you would like to practice medicine. How can we know at this stage of the game though, I really don't know how to answer those questions. I live in PA now, but am moving to FL for med school. As of now I think I'd love to live in the South, but I never did it, so maybe I won't like it and I'll want to come back North, or out West for that matter. Any advice on how to answer such questions as where do you want to practice medicine?

Thanx
Sharon Lee

 

[Peace&Health]

I know that on the application there are references made to regions where you would like to practice medicine. How can we know at this stage of the game though, I really don't know how to answer those questions. I Any advice on how to answer such questions as where do you want to practice medicine?

Thanx
Sharon Lee

Sharon,

I'm applying now...so just sharing my perspective.

I'm sure previous applicants have changed their mind from when they first applied to when they graduate from med school. I think just put where you would most likely like to end up "now". If you change you mind later, I'm sure there is a process to change your region selection. I don't think what you decide now is written in stone...Life happens...and takes you in directions you don't expect at times.

 

[minoos]

my limited understanding is that the regions are more for if you can't/don't find a job after residency...it is a way for you to help give the NHSC an idea of what you are looking for...
again, this second phase is only after you are unable to find your own job site.

i guess what i'm saying is that by putting a region on the application you are in no way binding yourself to that area indefinitely...

 

[jhug]

i don't know who minoos is but they didn't log out🙂🙂🙂

my limited understanding is that the regions are more for if you can't/don't find a job after residency...it is a way for you to help give the NHSC an idea of what you are looking for...
again, this second phase is only after you are unable to find your own job site.
the NHSC wants you to find your own site...you'll be much more likely to be happy and want to stay there if you are the one deciding where it is you'll be working...and that is the ultimate goal of the program, to get you to stay in an area that needs more doctors.

i guess what i'm saying is that by putting a region on the application now you are in no way binding yourself to that area indefinitely...