The GBHCW administers service-cancelable loan repayment programs for physicians, dentists, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses. The programs assist in paying any debt incurred for tuition, fees, and other expenses associated with the completion of the aforementioned degrees for practitioners who agree to practice full-time in an underserved, rural county in Georgia with a population of 50,000 or less.
- Physicians for Rural Areas Assistance Program (PRAA)
- Georgia Physician Loan Repayment Program (GPLRP)
- Dentists for Rural Areas Assistance Program (DRAA)
- Physician Assistant Loan Repayment Program (PALRP)
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Loan Repayment Program (APRNLRP)
Here are resources to determine the eligibility of a county you may be interested in servicing:
If you have questions about any loan repayment program listed here, please contact:
Contract Administrator – Yvette Speight
For loan repayment program applications or contracts
Primary: (404) 463-1057 / yspeight@dch.ga.gov
Physicians for Rural Areas Assistance Program (PRAA):
- A service-cancelable loan of up to $25,000 per year to licensed physicians
- Assists physicians in repaying outstanding medical education loan debt
- Physicians must provide direct patient care in medically underserved, rural areas of Georgia
- “Full-time” practice is a minimum of 40 hours per week (of which 32 hours must be direct patient contact while the remaining hours can be administrative)
- Contracts are awarded for one year and are renewable for an additional three terms (for a maximum of four years and $100,000)
- Funding for this program is provided solely by the State of Georgia
- Application cycle runs from Sept. 1 through Dec. 1
- PRAA information flyer
Georgia Physician Loan Repayment Program (GPLRP):
- A service-cancelable loan of up to $25,000 per year to licensed physicians
- Assists physicians in repaying outstanding medical education loan debt
- Physicians must provide direct patient care in a Health Professional Shortage Area located in a rural Georgia county
- Full-time practice is a minimum of 40 hours per week
- Initial contracts are awarded for a two-year period ($25,000 per year)
- Recipients can renew up to two times for annual awards (for a maximum of four years and $100,000)
- Funding for this program is provided jointly by the State of Georgia and a grant from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Health Resources and Services Administration
- It is limited to physicians practicing the specialties of family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN, geriatrics, or psychiatry
- Application cycle runs from Sept. 1 through Dec. 1
- More information can be found on the Health Resources and Services Administration website (click HERE).