UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health accepting applications for new health care worker loan relief program

Fran Feltner, Director of the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) and Sierra Williams, Rural Project Manager at CERH. Photo provided by CERH.
Fran Feltner, director of the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH), and Sierra Williams, Rural Project Manager at CERH. Photo provided by CERH.

HAZARD, Ky. (Nov. 3, 2022) — The University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health (UK CERH) recently announced the inaugural call for applications for the new Healthcare Worker Loan Relief Program of the Commonwealth (HWLRPC).

The HWLRPC, which is administered by the UK CERH in Hazard, is a new opportunity designed to increase the recruitment and retention of health care professionals to practice in underserved areas of Kentucky. It was established during the 2022 convening of the Kentucky General Assembly as HB 573, sponsored by Rep. Kimberly Moser. Created to be in alignment with the existing federally funded state loan repayment program, the new program expands eligibility to additional medical specialists including ophthalmologists, optometrists and audiologists,

“Our workforce studies show that Kentucky experiences health care professions shortages across the Commonwealth, particularly in rural and underserved areas,” said Fran Feltner, Ph.D., director of the UK CERH. “The new loan relief program will help us address this issue and improve access to care for our communities. This much-needed funding will compliment other existing loan relief programs to fill in gaps and move us in a positive direction.”

HWLRPC is geared toward trained and licensed professionals who provide direct patient care in one of the program’s eligible disciplines and specialties, including physicians, optometrists, ophthalmologists, audiologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, registered nurses, dentists, registered dental hygienists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional clinical counselors, health service psychologists, marriage and family therapists, psychiatric nurse specialists, alcohol and substance use disorder counselors and pharmacists. Additional specialties will be considered.

Applicants selected to participate could be awarded up to $100,000 depending upon provider type, level of loan indebtedness and sponsor commitment. Awardees are required to work 24-40 hours a week, up to 4,160 hours over a two- to three-year period. Participants receive tax-free student loan repayment in exchange for their service commitment.

Additional requirements include serving in an officially designated health professions shortage area and working at an eligible clinical site that serves as a sponsor. Examples of eligible sites include federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, community mental health agencies, health department clinics, prisons, private practices and critical access hospitals.

The deadline to apply by is 5 p.m. EST Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. Apply or learn more about applicant eligibility, clinical site eligibility and program guidelines here, or contact Sierra Williams at Slwi258@uky.edu or 606-439-3557.

About the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health: The University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health was established by state legislation in 1990 to address health disparities in rural Kentucky and the unique challenges faced by our communities. The mission was and still is today to improve the health and well-being of rural Kentuckians. For more than three decades, the center has partnered with communities, providers, students and individuals to provide health professions education, health policy research, health care service and community engagement toward reaching this mission.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.