For health care providers who want to make a difference by providing services to medically underserved populations in their communities, loan repayment programs ease the burden of educational debt while allowing them to engage in meaningful, mission driven work. For Colorado’s Community Health Centers (CHCs), these loan repayment programs allow highly qualified and dedicated providers the opportunity to make an impact on vulnerable communities through employment at one of Colorado’s CHCs, because providers at Colorado’s CHCs qualify for both the National Health Service Corps and the Colorado Health Service Corps. Recent and proposed expansions to these two loan repayment programs is good news for Colorado’s CHCs!
Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) is a state, federal, and private partnership that provides loan repayment opportunities for physicians, dentists, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, licensed mental health professionals, and dental hygienists who work in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). New for this year, program eligibility has been expanded to allow the following positions:
- Licensed Clinical Pharmacists with a PharmD, and
- Part-time providers that meet all other eligibility requirements.
These eligibility expansions will increase access to health care providers in underserved communities throughout Colorado! The next application cycle for CHSC will open in September 2014. For more information about CHSC, please visit their website here.
National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is a federal program that provides loan repayment and scholarship opportunities for providers working in HPSAs throughout the country. Recently, the White House announced that the President’s 2015 proposed budget included an expansion to NHSC that would increase the number of clinicians receiving loan repayment from 8,900 per year to 15,000 per year! This increase would have a significant impact on health access for vulnerable communities throughout the U.S., including the communities that Colorado’s CHCs serve.
In addition to loan repayment opportunities, NHSC also provides scholarships that pay tuition, fees, education costs, and stipends to students accepted or enrolled in a fully accredited training program for physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, and physician assistants. The application for this scholarship program is open until May 15, 2014. Click here to learn more about this scholarship program and to apply. Click here to review a scholarship program that exists for students enrolled in a nursing associate degree, baccalaureate, graduate, or diploma program.
If you are interested in providing high quality care to vulnerable populations in Colorado, you may qualify for loan repayment! Click here to learn more about Colorado’s 19 CHCs. Check out the most recent job opportunities at Colorado’s CHCs below, or visit the CHAMPS job bank for a complete listing.
| 1710 | Executive Assistant | Colorado Coalition for the HomelessDenver, CO |
| 1708 | Family Practice Non-OB | Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc. Antonito, CO |
| 1709 | Systems Administrator | Pueblo Community Health Center Pueblo, CO |
| 1706 | Referral Case Manager | Clinica Family Health Services Boulder, CO |
| 1613 | Staff Physician | High Plains Community Health Center Lamar, CO |
| 1707 | Special Projects Assistant | Colorado Community Health Network Denver, CO |
| 1700 | Community Health Worker | Metro Community Provider Network Aurora, CO |
| 1701 | Dental Assistant – EDDA | Metroc Community Provider Network Aurora, CO |
| 1699 | Behavioral Health Professional | Clinica Family Health Services Denver Metro Area, CO |
| 1277 | Family Practice Physician – OB Experience Required | Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc. La Junta, CO |
