Health professional educational scholarships and loans frequently require practice or employment in approved, underserved areas to waive monetary repayment of the awards. Many of the locations listed in this website can meet such requirements. Because of the diversity of repayment obligations, individuals with state or federal scholarship or loan obligations should consult with appropriate program staff listed below to confirm practice site eligibility.

Illinois Department of Public Health, Medical Student Scholarship Program

Recipients of scholarships from this program should contact the program coordinator, Bronwyn Jones-Leach, at (217) 782-1624 or at bronwyn.jones@illinois.gov to learn of acceptable practice locations to meet scholarship requirements.

Illinois Department of Public Health, Allied Health Care Professional Scholarship Program

Recipients of scholarships from this program should contact the program coordinator, Bronwyn Jones-Leach, at (217) 782-1624 or bronwyn.jones@illinois.gov to learn of acceptable practice locations to meet scholarship requirements.

Rural Illinois Medical Student Assistance Program (RIMSAP)

Recipients of loans through this program, sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois State Medical Society, should contact the program coordinator, Jim Schmidt, at (309) 557-2538 or jschmidt@ilfb.org to learn of acceptable practice locations to meet loan requirements.

National Health Service Corps

Recipients of scholarships through the National Health Service Corps must remember that not all health professional shortage areas qualify for repayment of their scholarship obligations. Contact Julie Casper at (217) 782-1624 or julie.casper@illinois.gov regarding approved locations in Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Public Health partners with the National Health Service Corps to offer educational loan repayment for health professionals who agree to a minimum two years practice term in a federal health professional shortage area. Two separate programs exist: an Illinois program that offers loan repayment with 50 percent of the funding provided by the National Health Service Corps; and 50 percent provided by the local recruiting location. Also available is the federal program, in which 100 percent of the funding is provided by the National Health Service Corps. For additional information, contact Julie Casper at (217) 782-1624 or julie.casper@illinois.gov.