Arkansas Rural Health Scholarship

The Arkansas Rural Health Scholarship was created by Dr. Rhys Branman to support, empower, and encourage first-year medical students in Arkansas who are interested in practicing medicine in rural areas of Arkansas.

The scholarship award of $2,500 is to be used toward tuition fees and educational expenses, including but not limited to: textbooks, supplies (paper, pens, notebooks, etc.), and required technology.

The scholarship award will be disbursed directly to the student in the form of a cash prize. The selected student will be required to furnish information necessary to issue a 1099 tax form, including social security number, as part of the process for dispersing scholarship monies. Student will be responsible for any resulting tax obligations.

Background

Rural areas face a documented shortage of essential healthcare professionals, especially in primary care fields. According to a 2013 federal report, Projecting the Supply and Demand for Primary Care Practitioners Through 2020, the demand for healthcare professionals is only expected to grow. In addition, the rising cost of education directly impacts the ability of students to pursue a healthcare degree, compounding the rural health workforce shortage.

Financial aid is an important tool in building the health workforce in rural communities through recruitment and retention. To help address this national and regional problem, Dr. Branman has developed a scholarship program to assist new healthcare students with the burden of cost while encouraging them to serve and practice in underserved areas. This brand-new scholarship program is intended to attract and support those who will thrive and remain in a rural community in the state of Arkansas.

Eligibility Requirements

The Rural Health Scholarship is open to Arkansas residents pursuing education in medical speciality with a focus on rural medicine. Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:

A) Student must be a current resident of Arkansas;

B) Applicant must be an undergraduate or postgraduate medical student pursuing a degree/career path in a medicine-related field* at an institution of higher learning in Arkansas.

C) Applicant must be committed to rural health medicine, serving in shortage areas of Arkansas upon completion of their medical education or residency training.

D) Applicant must submit one letter of recommendation with valid contact information;

E) Student must complete application form, provide original essay answers, and upload completed application and one letter of reference.