§239l–2 Students; Selection; Obligation

Summary

The Surgeon General runs a Track that picks students in medicine, dentistry, physician assistant, pharmacy, behavioral and mental health, public health, and nursing. Selection rules follow advice from the National Health Care Workforce Commission and must give priority to applicants from rural areas and underrepresented minorities. Students who join must sign a written contract that says the federal government will pay tuition remission and a student stipend for up to 4 school years (as the student chooses), but only if Congress provides the money. In return, students must accept the aid, stay enrolled and in good academic standing, finish required residencies or internships in specialties the Surgeon General approves, and serve in the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service for 2 years for each school year they got support. The Surgeon General sets the tuition remission and stipend rates and participating schools must accept the remission as full payment. Time required to serve can be reduced by 3 months per year (up to 12 months) if a student does a high‑needs specialty residency, and by 3 months per year (up to 12 months) for each year of full‑time work after residency at a federal medical facility in a health professional shortage area. Third and fourth year training should focus on clinical rotations in federal facilities in shortage areas with hospital and community experiences and team training. Similar rules apply to dental, PA, pharmacy, behavioral health, public health, and nursing students. The Surgeon General will also pick top faculty, students, and graduates for elite federal disaster response teams. If a student is dropped from the Track for poor conduct or studies (or other reasons), they must repay all tuition and stipend support.