State Loan Repayment Program for Health Care Professionals is Now Available
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), Office of Primary Care (OKPCO), with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is excited to announce the launch of a state loan repayment program, the OK Health Corps.
The OK Health Corps will make awards to of $35,000 - $50,000 to health care professionals in exchange for a service commitment of two years at community-based facilities that are certified or that meet criteria for certification as a National Health Service Corps site.
“We want to support the health workforce and increase access to health care in Oklahoma,” said Jana Castleberry, director of the OSDH Primary Care Office. “We hope this program provides incentives for health care providers to practice in areas of the state that experience significant shortages of health professionals.”
Awards will be prioritized to providers who address mental health and substance use disorders in Oklahoma, with a funding preference for behavioral health providers who work in community mental health centers, substance use disorder treatment facilities, community health centers and Tribal health facilities.
Depending on the availability of resources, the program will fund additional disciplines working in facility types and underserved areas that are not currently eligible for other state loan repayment programs.
For more information or questions, please email OKHealthCorps@health.ok.gov.
For more information on National Health Service Corps programs visit National Health Service Corps | NHSC (hrsa.gov).
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) protects and improves public health through its system of local health services and strategies focused on preventing disease. OSDH provides technical support and guidance to 68 county health departments in Oklahoma, as well as guidance and consultation to the two independent city-county health departments in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Learn more at Oklahoma.gov/health.
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