FAQ: Medical Student Education Program

Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-24-074

1. Accreditation
2. Allowable and unallowable costs
3. Eligibility
4. Funding priority
5. Program requirements
6. Project director

Accreditation

Can someone who is working towards accreditation but not currently accredited apply?

No. You must have at least provisional accreditation to apply.

Allowable and unallowable costs

Is construction an allowable cost?

No. New construction is not an allowable cost under this funding opportunity. However, minor renovations and alterations are allowable.

Can foundation funding received by the institution for medical education purposes be used to fulfill cost share match obligations?

Yes.

Do scholarship awards need to be annual or can awards cover the entire 3-year period of performance?

You may award scholarships across the period of performance.

Eligibility

Is this grant program also available for Physician Assistant students?

No.

Can two public medical schools that are sponsored by the same Board of Regents submit separate applications?

Yes.

Are current grant recipients for HRSA-23-124 eligible for this funding opportunity?

No. Grant recipients funded through HRSA-23-124 are ineligible for funding from this competition.

Funding priority

If we have a partnership with an entity that is in another state, can we count the tribe in our partner state for the priority?

No. You cannot count a tribe in another state for the priority.

Will institutions in states with a small number of tribes but a significant overall number of tribal members receive priority?

No. The funding priority is for states with a greater number of federally recognized tribes (two or more). The priority is not based on the total number of tribal members.

Program requirements

Does the requirement for educational and training activities apply to all medical students, or can it be limited to medical students who have demonstrated an interest in primary care?

It is up to the institution how to implement educational and training activities keeping in mind the goal of the program is to increase the number of primary care physicians practicing in states with a projected primary care physician shortage.

A teaching health center has the requirement to operate as a primary care residency program. Does a community-based setting also require an existing, operating residency program?

No. A community-based setting does not require an existing residency program.

We have a new clinical training site that will not be available until August 2025. Can we list it as a clinical site, or does it need to be operational when we apply?

All clinical sites listed must be in operation at the time of the application. However, that should not prevent applicants from further developing new clinical training sites.

Can you describe or share an example of “public-private” partnership?

A clinical training site with letters of agreement that include documentation of required clinical experiences in tribal, rural, and/or medically underserved communities for the medical students. These partnerships must already exist by the time of submission of the application. For more information, please see page 29 of the NOFO.

Is an agreement with a clinical affiliate, which is a private, non-profit corporation, considered an approved private entity for the purpose of funding priority consideration?

An agreement with a clinical affiliate can be an approved private entity if it meets the requirements for public-private partnerships, as indicated in the NOFO.

Is there an ideal number or percentage of scholarships that should be offered?

It is up to the institution to decide how many scholarships to offer according to their own institutional policy and need.

If a medical school runs a mobile clinic, can that be considered a clinical site?

A mobile clinic cannot be used as a clinical site unless it is attached to a clinic with a permanent address.

If a residency program is in the process of opening a clinical site focused on treatment in addiction medicine and juvenile mental health, would it be considered an acceptable site?

Yes, if it provides relevant clinical training experience for medical students, as determined by the institution.

Can pre-admitted rising college juniors’ program be considered equivalent to a Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program?

No. A Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program gives college graduates the opportunity to complete undergraduate science courses in preparation for applying to medical school and other related professional schools.

Can institutions expand existing Postbaccalaureate Premedical Programs as well as create new programs?

Yes. Institutions may expand existing postbaccalaureate programs as well as create new programs.

If we have developed and/or implemented activities in our current Medical Student Education grant, can we expand and/or enhance those activities with this funding?

Yes. You can use this funding to expand and/or enhance activities in your current grant if the developed or implemented activities are required and comply with the NOFO.

Project director

What are the qualifications or requirements for the position of Project Director?

The Project Director must be a board-certified physician, employed by the applicant organization, and must dedicate at least 20% of their time (may be in-kind or funded) to grant activities.