Mount St. Mary's University's Care for America program exemplifies our unwavering commitment to healthcare equity. Through scholarships, curriculum and partnerships, the Mount is actively working to break down barriers to graduate healthcare education, nurture students' passion for service and create pathways for practicing in high-need settings.
At Care for America health equity training and experiential learning are integrated into the core curriculum for all students. Additionally, a scholarship opportunity is available for select students who are highly dedicated to serving in areas of great need following graduation.
For more information on Care for America please call 301-447-5121 or email paprogram@msmary.edu.
Care for America graduates healthcare professionals who will faithfully serve the underserved, champion diversity in the field, and advance equity in healthcare and beyond.
Care for America offers a full-tuition scholarship to select Physician Assistant (PA) students dedicated to serving in underserved areas. Recipients of this scholarship are required to commit to practicing as a PA for two years at a high-need partner institution after graduation and certification (details provided below).
Care for America is part of the core curriculum. Through health equity courses students develop the necessary mindsets and skills to compassionately serve historically underserved populations and advance equity in healthcare and beyond.
To enhance the health equity coursework, all students engage in experiential learning, such as visiting a free health clinic and shadowing healthcare professionals caring for people experiencing homelessness. Each student has experience in healthcare settings serving historically underserved patient populations.
The Care for America Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship that is valued at approximately $88,000. The scholarship does not cover room, board and other fees.
Recipients of Care for America scholarships must work full-time for two years at a high-need partner institution after graduation. During this period, students can select their desired practice location from partner institutions that offer them employment.
Partner institutions are classified as "high-need" based on the population they serve and their clinician staffing challenges. PAs receive a full salary during their two years of service. It's important to note that compensation at high-need institutions is often below the industry average.
Students can apply to Care for America as a supplemental application within CASPA while applying to the PA program. The application window for Care for America will open in May 2024.
The Care for America Scholarship Program is highly competitive. Scholarship recipients will be selected based on service, equity and excellence criteria. At present, the Care for America Scholarship is only available for PA students.
The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed health care inequities that have long existed across the United States. The Mount is committed to finding innovative ways to get providers working in the communities where they are most needed.
