Healthcare Worker Loan Relief Program of the Commonwealth

Sierra Williams
606.439.3557
Slwi258@uky.edu

The Healthcare Worker Loan Relief Program of the Commonwealth will provide loan repayment for specific healthcare professionals who agree to practice in underserved areas of Kentucky for at least 2 years. Eligible practice sites must be public or nonprofit private entities located in a federally-designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).

Applicants must:

• Be U.S. citizens (either U.S. born or naturalized) or U.S. nationals and work in Kentucky
• Have been trained and licensed to provide direct patient care in one of the program's eligible disciplines and specialties
• Have a current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted professional license, certificate, or registration in Kentucky
• Be employed at an eligible site, or have accepted an offer of employment at an eligible site where service will begin no later than January 2023
• Work in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)
• Practice 24-40 hours a week up to 4,160 hours over a 2-3 years period, providing primary health services at an eligible site

Eligible professions include:

• Physicians
• Optometrists
• Ophthalmologists
• Audiologists
• Physician assistants
• Nurse practitioners
• Certified nurse-midwives
• Registered nurses
• Dentists
• Registered dental hygienists
• Licensed clinical social workers
• Licensed professional clinical counselors
• Health service psychologists
• Marriage and family therapists
• Psychiatric nurse specialists
• Alcohol and substance use disorder counselors
• Pharmacists

Other specialties will be considered.

Funding will be awarded in a tiered format, based on provider type, level of loan indebtedness, and sponsor match level.

Links to additional guidance and the online application are available on the program website.