Office of Primary Care and Rural Health

The Office of Primary Care and Rural Health (OPCRH) works to help medically underserved and rural communities recruit and retain health professionals. OPCRH administers the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), Conrad 30 (J-1 Visa) program, and Rural Recruitment and Retention Network (3RNet) for Hawaii.

NHSC focuses on the recruitment of primary care providers in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and is operated through the Bureau of Health Workforce of the Health Resources and Services Administration. NHSC providers consist of the following:

• Scholarship Program – Physician, dentist, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or physician assistant graduates who have been provided tuition for obligated service in HPSAs after licensure. Learn more at nhsc.hrsa.gov/scholarships/prospective-scholars.
• Loan Repayment Program Participants – NHSC provides eligible licensed clinicians educational loans repayment in exchange for service in HPSAs. In exchange for loan repayment, you must serve at least two years of service at an NHSC approved site in a HPSA. Learn more at nhsc.hrsa.gov/loan-repayment/prospective-loan-repayment-recipients.
• State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) – The Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program (HSLRP) is a federal grant to pay off educational loans for primary care, dental, and behavioral health providers who care for rural and underserved patients at eligible sites located within a designated Health Professional Shortage Areas of Hawaii. Learn more at ahec.hawaii.edu/hslrp/.
• Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP) – The NHHSP is also operated by HRSAʻs Bureau of Health Workforce and is administered by Papa Ola Lōkahi. Established in 1988 within the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act, the NHHSP provides awards to Native Hawaiian students seeking degrees in the health care professions. The purpose is to increase the number of Native Hawaiians in health and allied health professions, thereby increasing access to acceptable health care delivery for those who seek it. Learn more at bhw.hrsa.gov/funding/apply-scholarship/native-hawaiian-health.

Click on nhsc.hrsa.gov/ for more information.

J-1 physicians, also known as Foreign Medical Graduates or International Medical Graduates, are physicians from other countries who have sought and received a J-1 exchange visitor visa. The visa allows holders to remain in the U.S. until their studies are completed. At the completion of their studies, they may stay in the country to practice in a federally designated health professional shortage area or medically underserved area, if sponsored by a U.S. government agency. State government agencies also may sponsor J-1 physician waiver requests, which are called Conrad State 30 programs.

3RNET provides rural communities and facilities in Hawaii with a free resource for posting their opportunities to a group of candidates with an interest in working in rural and underserved areas. Learn more about the job openings in Hawaii at 3RNET.org/Locations/Hawaii.

The Health Workforce Connector of the Health Resources and Service Administration lists health professional job openings and training vacancies that are located within a HPSA. Create a personalized profile to search for jobs at connector.hrsa.gov/connector.

If you have any questions about the programs listed above, please contact Caroline Kunitake, Hawaii Primary Care Office Coordinator, at [email protected] or (808) 733 8359.