The deadline to apply for the 2014 Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program is October 19. The program, created in 2002 by a CMA-sponsored bill, provides selected physicians with grants of up to $105,000 in exchange for a three-year service commitment in a medically underserved area of the state.

To be considered for an award, you must:

• Have a valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in California
• Be free of any contractual service obligations (i.e. the National Health Service Corps Federal Loan Repayment Program or other financial incentive programs)
• Have outstanding educational debt from a government or commercial lending institution
• Be currently employed or have accepted employment in a federally designated "health professional shortage area" in California

Only, the most dedicated, competent and culturally-linguistically individuals will be awarded.

For application, eligibility and program questions, call the Health Professions Education Foundation at (800) 773-1669. For technical assistance, call (800) 820-1890.

For more information or to submit an application, visit http://www.healthprofessions.ca.gov.