Pilot Program for Graduate Medical Education and Residency (PPGMER)

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Through the PPGMER, the Veterans Health Administration is offering funding to improve healthcare access for veterans and others living in rural and underserved regions by supporting resident physician rotations and new graduate medical education programs at high-priority locations. Locations include facilities operated by Indian Health Service, tribes, tribal organizations, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and the Department of Defense.

Covered facilities include those operated by a tribe or tribal organization, Indian Health Service (IHS), Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Department of Defense (DOD) or those located in the local community of a VA facility that has been designated by VA as underserved. Facilities must have or be partnering with ACGME-accredited programs that have, or plan to have, resident rotations.

The pilot program is not a grant opportunity, but rather a reimbursement from VA to sponsoring institutions (SIs) who are responsible for resident physician stipends and benefits. VA will reimburse the GME SIs for the proportionate cost of stipends and benefits for individual residents participating in PPGMER.

The program provides 1-year funding for no fewer than 100 individual physician residents.

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