October is Corps Community Month, now in its fifth year to bring awareness on the importance of the primary care workforce in improving health.  This month highlights the benefits and impact of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) programs in bringing more health care providers into underserved communities with limited access.  The NHSC increases access to care by supporting primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse-midwives, dentists, dental hygienists, and mental health professionals working in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) of the state through loan repayment assistance.

NHSC also provides some funding support to the Arizona Loan Repayment Program, which like the NHSC Loan Repayment Program provides loan repayment incentives to primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse-midwives, dentists, psychiatrists, geriatrics, pharmacists, and other mental health providers  in exchange for their service commitment in Arizona’s federally designated HPSA  or Arizona Medically Underserved Areas (AzMUA).

To emphasize the importance of the primary care workforce and to celebrate Corps Community Month, the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Bureau of Health Systems Development in collaboration with the Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers and the University of Arizona Center for Rural Health will host the following webinar series:

Corps Community Month Webinar Series

  • October 14, 2015: Time 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

Recruitment and Retention through Loan Repayment Incentives

Please contact Diane Williams to sign up for this webinar.

  • October 21, 2015: Time 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

What You Should Know About the Arizona Rural Recruitment & Retention Network –3RNet

Please contact Diane Williams to sign up or this webinar

  • October 28, 2014: Time 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

Recruitment & Retention Resources and Materials:

Identify Resources, Toolkits, Best Practices, Training and Technical Assistance Related to Clinician Recruitment and Retention Available Through the Solutions, Training and Assistance for Recruitment and Retention Center (STAR2 Center).

Please contact Lourdes Paez to sign up for this webinar.

For more information about the National Health Service Corps or the Arizona Loan Repayment Program, please contact Ana Roscetti at [email protected].