Indiana Primary Care Scholarship Program a Plus for Indiana

Melissa Tipton Palvelka, MD '94, Christopher Ricketts, MD '98, and third-year student Shanna Bowman, share a commitment that benefits Hoosiers living in medically underserved communities. All three were accepted into the Indiana Primary Care Scholarship program which was created to attract primary care physicians to practice in areas of the state lacking appropriate medical resources.

Though the number of IUSM graduates entering primary care has increased over the last several years, many rural areas and some urban areas of the state continue to need physicians who specialize in pediatrics, family medicine and general internal medicine. Students accepted into the Indiana Primary Care Scholarship Program receive tuition reimbursement from the state in return for their commitment to practice in an underserved area of Indiana. The length of their commitment correlates to the number of years they receive scholarship money. The IUSM class of 1998 was the second to have the opportunity to enroll in the program during their first year of medical school. The class has 23 Indiana Primary Care Scholars.

According to Steve Bogdewic, PhD, assistant dean for primary care at IUSM, the program has the potential to correct most of the state's distribution problem. He says that although some entering students know they want to practice in a rural or underserved area, the reality is that not enough students choose to do so without some incentive. In addition, Dr. Bogdewic says that the to attend medical school.

"The program is positive for Indiana," says Dr. Ricketts, who hopes to practice in northeast Indiana. "It's helping citizens by keeping doctors in Indiana. And doctors benefit not only from the financial incentive, but also because the state is so primary care-friendly."

As of July 1998, the state has allocated $2.8 million for the program. Currently, 74 students are in medical school, 16 are in post-graduate training programs, and three are practicing physicians. This summer, five of the 16 residents will complete residency training and begin their practices in Scott, Adams and Shelby counties.