Medical students win scholarships in exchange for service in areas of need

One way to address the nation's increasing shortage of primary care doctors is to give medical students a financial incentive to practice medicine where the need is greatest. Two Florida State University College of Medicine students just got the strongest incentive of all: a scholarship that covers the entire cost of their remaining time in medical school.

Fourth-year student Tanya Anim and third-year student Komal D'Souza received National Health Service Corps Scholarships for one and two years respectively. The scholarship covers all tuition and fees and includes a monthly stipend of almost $1,300. In exchange, both students must serve at least two years in an area designated by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration as "medically underserved." Florida is among the states with the most such areas. In fact, 251 areas in the state have a high need for primary care doctors.