Geisinger Offers Debt-free Primary Care Medical School

Program offered for medical students who'll commit to primary care at the Pennsylvania-based health system after graduating.

Geisinger and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine have created the Geisinger Primary Care Scholars Program that will offer debt-free medical school and living assistance to medical students who agree to work within primary care at the health system after they graduate.

Medical students often carry $200,000 or more in debt, which pushes them into higher-paying specialties. Geisinger President and CEO Jaewon Ryu, MD, says that removing the financial strain in exchange for a four-year commitment to practice at Geisinger will make it easier for more med students to pursue primary care.

"At Geisinger, we've been able to prove that by focusing on primary care we can improve outcomes, lower costs and improve satisfaction among patients and providers," Ryu said.

"We've built some innovative programs that expand upon the notion of what is primary care and where it is delivered. With all of these different offerings, we are thrilled to welcome anyone who shares this passion around new and exciting ways to deliver this core care," Ryu said.

"So, it's only natural that we extend that commitment to training the next generation of physicians. These scholars have the opportunity to learn and later work in Geisinger's innovative primary care environment without the worry of how they will pay for their education," he said.

The program will pick 40 first- and second-year students in each incoming medical class through a competitive application process. Selection criteria include demonstrated financial need, academic merit, diversity, passion for serving their communities, and predictors of whether the applicant is likely to stay in Geisinger's service area.

The program will provide full coverage of tuition and fees plus a monthly $2,000 stipend through the four years of medical school.     

"I can't think of a better opportunity for these scholars to pursue their commitment to primary care than by providing debt-free medical schooling," said Steven J. Scheinman, MD, executive vice president and chief academic officer at Geisinger and Dean of the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

Last year Geisinger started the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program. Which gives 10 students in each class up to four years of tuition in the form of a loan, which is forgiven upon completion of a service commitment as a Geisinger physician in any specialty.