The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) will soon be accepting the next round of applications from California residency programs seeking grant funding for new or existing resident positions.

The 2014-2015 California State Budget allocated $7 million to expand OSHPD's Song-Brown Program to create more residency slots in the state and to open the program to all primary care specialties (family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics-gynecology and pediatrics). Thanks in large part to the advocacy of the California Medical Association, the budget also included $4 million in one-time funding earmarked for new primary care residency slots in order to allow training programs to expand capacity.

Last year, the program for the first time funded internal medicine, obstetrics-gynecology and pediatric primary care programs—a total of 15 programs funded with more than $2 million. This year, the program will award grants totaling $3.5 million.

The next application process will open on July 31, 2015. All accredited residency programs interested in applying for primary care residency funding should visit the Song-Brown website for additional information. Applications are due August 31, 2015, by 3 p.m.

In addition, the Song-Brown program is also seeking subject matter experts to join an application review panel for the granting process. The program is looking for variety of health care professionals, including residents and students. Providers may be asked to review up to 15 applications. The deadline to apply is July 15, 2015.

Contact: Tyfany Frazier, (916) 326-3754 or tyfany.frazier@oshpd.ca.gov.