Recruitment

A pharmacist wearing a mask and white coat reaches for a medication on a shelf in a pharmacy.

There is a critical shortage of primary care providers in West Virginia.

Coupled with an aging population and a significant population with multiple chronic conditions, the need for primary care providers is growing.
 
Without an adequate clinical workforce, Health Centers cannot run their businesses efficiently or provide care to those who need it most. The WVPCA understands that Health Centers experience frequent vacancies and significant challenges in recruiting and retaining providers. The WVPCA’s goal is to help Centers overcome those challenges and fill their vacancies with high-caliber medical professionals who have a desire to work in a team-based, patient-centered environment long term.

In addition to posting vacancies on our website, the WVPCA staff markets Community Health Center opportunities at state and national conferences, career fairs, and residency programs when possible.

The WVPCA also partners with the National Health Service Corps and J-1 Visa programs. The recruitment services provided by the WVPCA are intended to complement the recruitment services of each health center, not replace them. The WVPCA also provides CEOs with annual WV CHC Salary & Benefit reports.

For more information, contact Shannon Parker at 304-661-5741.

Resources

  • National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program

    National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

    National Health Service Corps Students to Service Loan Repayment

    National Health Service Corps Nurse Corp

    NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program

    NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program

    For more information, contact Adam Kloss at Adam.J.Kloss@wv.gov.

  • There are two options for J-1 visa waivers in West Virginia - The Department of State (DOS) and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Program.

    For more information, contact Brandon Carman at brandon.k.carman@wv.gov.

  • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Exchange Visitor Program accepts applications to request waiver of the two-year foreign residency requirement. Applications to request waivers to deliver health care services are available here.  

    Contact your immigration specialist if you have questions or Michael Berry, Bureau of Health Workforce, Parklawn Building, Room 15 W 10, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. He can be reached via phone at 301.443.4151 or via email at MBerry@HRSA.gov.

  • The West Virginia State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) offers medical loan repayment to primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician assistants, pharmacists, BS-RN's and dentists in return for an obligated service in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) in West Virginia for a non-profit employer.

    The maximum repayment during the required initial two-year contract is $50,000 for primary care physicians and dentists (MD/DO/DDS).

    The maximum repayment during the required initial two-year contract is $40,000 for nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician assistants, and pharmacists.

    The maximum repayment during the required initial two-year contract is $25,000 for BS-RN providers.

    Two one-year contract amendments may be awarded at qualifying sites for a maximum of half of the original award per year (MD/DO/DDS - $25,000, NP/PA/PharmD/Nurse Midwives - $20,000, BS-RN - $12,500). Contract amendments are awarded based on the availability of funding.

    For more information, contact Adam Kloss at Adam.J.Kloss@wv.gov.

  • The Recruitment and Retention Community Project (RRCP) is designed to help fill the gaps that exist with state and federal loan repayment/scholarship programs. This is accomplished by building on existing incentives to develop a more competitive package for the recruitment and retention of primary health care providers.

    The purpose of this grant is to help rural communities recruit and retain primary health care providers in medically underserved communities by providing financial support in the form of recruitment grants (loan repayment, loan forgiveness) and retention grants (locum tenens), or other incentives approved by the Bureau of Public Health.

    There is a maximum of four years of support through this program.

    A 50% match between the Bureau of Public Health and the sponsoring community organization, not to exceed a combined total of $20,000.

    For more information, contact Adam Kloss at Adam.J.Kloss@wv.gov.

Other Loan Repayment Options

  • The Choose West Virginia Practice Program is a state-funded tuition waiver program that awards nonresident West Virginia medical school students to remain/return to West Virginia to practice. Recipients must have plans for practicing in one of the following medical specialties: family medicine, general internal medicine, geriatrics, internal medicine/pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, preventive medicine, psychiatry, addiction medicine, general surgery, or general neurology. The recipient must also practice in an underserved area within West Virginia.

    In exchange for these funds, recipients agree to practice at an eligible service site each year they accept or renew the award. Tuition awards are the difference between the out-of-state tuition amount and the in-state tuition amount (approximately $33,000).

  • https://www.fmfwv.org/scholarships

    Loans to individual recipients in the amount of $6,000 per year for the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year medical students, may be awarded on the basis of need and interest in Family Medicine.

    A student receiving an ESP Loan promises to specialize in the field of Family Medicine, and upon completion of his/her intern or residency training, he/she promises to practice in the state of West Virginia for two years upon completion of his/her intern or residency training, unless awarded the scholarship as a 4th year medical student, in which case he/she must promise to practice in the state of West Virginia for one year upon completion of his/her intern or residency training.

    After one to two years of practice is completed, the Family Medicine Foundation of West Virginia ESP Fund agrees to waive repayment. If the recipient fails to fulfill the agreement, he/she will be obligated to repay the scholarship plus interest.

    Applicant does not need to complete residency in WV, but must practice in family medicine in WV for agreed upon term after residency.

    For more information, contact Mary Hendershot, Program Coordinator, Family Medicine Foundation of West Virginia at info@fmfwv.org.

  • The Health Sciences Service Program is a state-funded loan repayment program that awards to MD/DO family practice physicians, general practice physicians, general internists, geriatricians, obstetrician/gynecologists, general pediatricians, psychiatrists, and other providers, including nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, doctoral clinical psychologists, and licensed independent clinical social workers. In exchange for receiving these funds, recipients agree to complete service obligations in West Virginia after completing their programs or repay the award—recipients who are pre-licensure, Psy.D, LICSW, or any other recipient seeking additional training or fellowship are not distributed until they obtain proper certification or licensure. Service obligation requirements are as follows: 

    • MD/DO: the recipient will agree to practice full-time for at least two years or half-time for at least four years in an underserved area of West Virginia. The MD/DO recipients may elect to receive their award during their residency training, but their service obligation does not begin until they begin practice after residency is completed. They must repay the award if they do not work at an eligible site in West Virginia after residency.

    • Nurse Educators: the recipient will agree to teach full-time for at least two years or half-time for at least four years at a school of nursing in West Virginia.

    • All other disciplines: the recipient will agree to practice full-time for at least two years or half-time for at least four years in an underserved area of West Virginia.

    • MD/DO and Dental Students awards are $30,000 for loan repayment. All other disciplines are awarded $15,000 towards loan repayment.

  • The Mental Health Loan Repayment Program is a state-funded loan repayment program that awards practicing mental health professionals to deliver therapy or counseling services in underserved areas of West Virginia. Recipients must be graduates of an accredited program and be fully licensed in an approved mental health field. Additionally, recipients must already be employed full-time or part-time in an underserved area in West Virginia, providing individual and group counseling or therapy for a majority of their practice. In exchange for these funds, recipients agree to practice at an eligible service site for each year they accept or renew the award. Recipients may renew this award twice for a total of three years. Awards are $10,000 a year for loan repayment for up to three years of service (total of $30,000). The approved disciplines are: 

    • Licensed doctoral clinical psychologist

    • Master’s level licensed psychologist

    • Licensed independent clinical social worker

    • Licensed certified social worker

    • Licensed professional counselor

    • Licensed marriage and family therapist

    • Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner

  • https://www.fmfwv.org/scholarships

    Scholarships to individual 3rd and 4th year medical student recipients in the amount of $6,000 per year or a total of $12,000 total for the third and fourth years of medical school may be awarded on the basis of need and interest in Family Medicine.

    A student receiving a Tully Scholarship promises to specialize in the field of Family Medicine in the state of West Virginia for one year upon completion of his/her intern or residency training. After one year of practice is completed, the Family Medicine Foundation of West Virginia Tully Fund agrees to waive repayment. If the recipient fails to fulfill the agreement, he/she will be obligated to repay the scholarship plus interest.

    Applicant does not need to complete residency in WV, but must practice in family medicine in WV for agreed upon term after residency.

    For more information, contact Mary Hendershot, Program Coordinator, Family Medicine Foundation of West Virginia at info@fmfwv.org.