Programs that pay off school debt

[sorham]

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Does anyone know if there are programs that you can get into after residency that will pay off you school debt? I know for dental or medical there are state run programs that if you go work in under served areas then the state pays your school loans one year for each year you work there. Are there such options available for Podiatrists?

 

[catchburns]

Does anyone know if there are programs that you can get into after residency that will pay off you school debt? I know for dental or medical there are state run programs that if you go work in under served areas then the state pays your school loans one year for each year you work there. Are there such options available for Podiatrists?

Yes, they are available but not as prevalent as for MDs or DOs in certain specialties. I know that in AZ, podiatrists can get $20,000 of their student debt for each year of service spent working with Native American populations. Utah also has a similar program. My guess is that they are probably a bit harder to arrange though.

 

[ldsrmdude]

The Indian Health Service offers jobs in a lot of states, not just Arizona or Utah. Here is an article on SDN about it: http://www.studentdoctor.net/2009/08/opportunities-in-the-indian-health-service/
We had a presentation about it last year and it sounded pretty good. They pay back $20,000 for each year plus a decent salary. Also, if you are interested in the military, they offer loan repayment programs as well. I don't know of any other specific ones off the top of my head, but I have heard of some hospitals offering something like that, but I assume that is the rare exception to the rule.

 

[sorham]

Is it hard to get into such programs?

 

[Tiggles]

My roommate is in a Navy program, where for every year of school that they pay for is a year of service with them after your residency.

 

[KaTrInAtF4]

My roommate is in a Navy program, where for every year of school that they pay for is a year of service with them after your residency.

how do you get more info on this??????

 

[catchburns]

any of the military websites have info on it. Go to the Navy website and check it out. Its called the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). It works a bit different for pod students though so you'll need to talk to a recruiter to get the exactly details of what they offer (for example, I don't think pod students get the signing bonus).

BTW - the Air Force is the only branch of the military where you don't have to worry about getting deployed as a GMO before your residency is over.

 

[ldsrmdude]

how do you get more info on this??????

http://www.navy.com/careers/healthcare/medicalservicecorps/clinicalcareproviders/podiatry/
Your best bet is to talk to a Navy officer recruiter, one that specifically deals with health care. I assume most schools have contact information for the local recruiters available. This option is only good for 3 years of schooling, I think, so it still leaves a year left that you will need loans, etc to pay for.

Edit: Dang, too slow on the typing again! 🙂

 

[ldsrmdude]

BTW - the Air Force is the only branch of the military where you don't have to worry about getting deployed as a GMO before your residency is over.

That may be true, but as far as I know, the Navy is the only branch offering the HPSP (or the HSCP) to podiatry students.

 

[catchburns]

That may be true, but as far as I know, the Navy is the only branch offering the HPSP (or the HSCP) to podiatry students.

Really!? You very well could be right. I honestly have no clue. Good to know.

 

[ldsrmdude]

Yeah, I just checked and think they still are the only ones. And that has only happened in the past year. I guess they get enough pods to join without paying for their schooling.

 

[dyk343]

http://www.navy.com/careers/healthcare/medicalservicecorps/clinicalcareproviders/podiatry/
Your best bet is to talk to a Navy officer recruiter, one that specifically deals with health care. I assume most schools have contact information for the local recruiters available. This option is only good for 3 years of schooling, I think, so it still leaves a year left that you will need loans, etc to pay for.

Edit: Dang, too slow on the typing again! 🙂

I'm not trying to jab at recruiters or anything, and obviously I'm not in the navy... but I know several people from high school that were flat out lied to by recruiters to get them to join. They promised my friends lots of great things but in the end they ended up doing the very opposite from what they were promised.

I think the best thing to do would to try to find a MD/DO/DDS/other health professional that has been through it all.

 

[that1guyfromFL]

I think the best thing to do would to try to find a MD/DO/DDS/other health professional that has been through it all.

I agree completely, I also know of several individuals who feel they were not given accurate info before they signed.

Find someone who has completed the program you are interested in.

 

[ldsrmdude]

Definitely go in with your eyes open wide and understand what you are getting yourself into. The recruiters I have talked to have all been very honest and open with me, but I am sure there are others that aren't. Check out the military medicine forum here on SDN for some insight into the HPSP, but realize that it is going to be a bit different for podiatry students in a few aspects. 👍

 

[215353]

Here is a first hand experience from an allopathic student who took the HPSP scholarship from the Air Force (it's very sobering and very informative):

READ THIS!

http://lukeballard.tripod.com/HPSP.html

 

[dropfoot]

I'm not trying to jab at recruiters or anything, and obviously I'm not in the navy... but I know several people from high school that were flat out lied to by recruiters to get them to join. They promised my friends lots of great things but in the end they ended up doing the very opposite from what they were promised.

I think the best thing to do would to try to find a MD/DO/DDS/other health professional that has been through it all.

Your friends were most likely rank and file soldiers, so you are comparing apples and oranges. An officer in the military lives a whole different life than an unlisted NCO, and recruiters are pretty staight forward when dealing with such. Your point is well taken though.