Illinois Podiatric Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Illinois Department of Public Health

Pursuant to the Podiatric Scholarship and Residency Act (110 ILCS 978)

Overview
This scholarship program exists to increase the number of podiatric physicians working in medically underserved parts of Illinois. It pays tuition, matriculation fees, and a living stipend for eligible podiatric medical students — and in return recipients commit to practicing in Illinois Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Read the sections below carefully so you understand eligibility, application materials, deadlines, and what happens after graduation.

Purpose
- Increase the number of podiatric physicians practicing in underserved areas of Illinois.

What the award covers
- Full tuition, matriculation fees, and a living stipend.
- Maximum award length: up to 4 years.
- Service obligation: one full year of work in an Illinois HPSA for each year scholarship funds were received.

Who is eligible
To apply you must:
1. Be an Illinois resident at the time you apply.
2. Be enrolled in or accepted to an accredited podiatric medical school located in Illinois.
3. Demonstrate financial need as determined by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) using FAFSA/Student Aid Report or school-provided documentation.
4. Agree to practice full-time as a podiatric physician in an Illinois HPSA for one year per year of scholarship support.

Ineligible
- Applicants who receive other scholarships or loans that impose service commitments preventing them from meeting this program’s service obligation cannot receive this scholarship.

How to apply
- Applications are submitted online.
- Required documents (submitted with your application):
1. Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency (birth certificate, naturalization documentation, or permanent resident documentation).
2. Student Aid Report (SAR) from your FAFSA or alternate financial-need documentation provided by your podiatric medical school.
3. Proof of enrollment or a letter of acceptance from an Illinois podiatric medical school.
4. Official transcripts from undergraduate and/or podiatric medical school. Transcripts must be sent directly to IDPH by the school or be issued to you in a sealed envelope that remains sealed until received by IDPH. Each transcript must show the institution’s seal, the date issued, and the registrar’s signature. Transcripts that do not meet these requirements will be rejected.
5. Completed narrative questions (application essays).

Selection and renewal
Renewal for current recipients
- A current scholarship recipient may request continued support for the next academic year (up to four years total) if they:
1. Submit a request to continue funds.
2. Are not repeating the same year of school for a second consecutive year because of poor academic performance.
3. Have not voluntarily withdrawn from podiatric medical school.

Selection of new recipients
If funds are available for new recipients, IDPH will evaluate applicants using these criteria (not necessarily in order):
- Interest in podiatric medicine.
- Previous experience with medically underserved populations.
- Experience in the health care delivery system (preference for those with primary care experience).
- Academic performance (official transcripts).
- Financial need.
- More years remaining in podiatric medical school (preference given).
- Willingness to provide podiatric care to Illinois residents in HPSAs.
- Length of residency in Illinois (longer is preferred).
- U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Preference for minority applicants
- Minority students receive selection preference. For the program, minority groups include:
- African-American (origins in any black racial groups of Africa)
- Hispanic (origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean)
- Asian American (origins in the Far East, Southeast Asia, Indian subcontinent, or Pacific Islands)
- Native American or Alaskan Native (origins in the original peoples of North America)

Contract and disbursement
- Before any scholarship funds are disbursed for an academic year, recipients must sign a grant agreement with the State of Illinois that explains how funds will be paid and how the service obligation must be met.
- Scholarship payments are sent directly to the recipient’s school. Schools must complete verification of class enrollment forms before payments are released.

Repaying the scholarship (fulfilling the service obligation)
- Repayment is satisfied by practicing full-time as a podiatric physician in an IDPH-approved Illinois HPSA.
- You must begin your service obligation within 30 days after you are licensed to practice podiatric medicine in Illinois, or, if you are already licensed, within 30 days after completing residency training.
- The service obligation equals one full-time year of practice for each year you received scholarship funds.
- You are responsible for finding a suitable practice site. IDPH must approve the location before you sign any formal employment agreement. IDPH can approve sites up to 18 months before you begin your service obligation.
- Be flexible about city or county preferences. HPSA designations change periodically, so stating a narrow location preference may limit your options.

Default and financial penalties
You will be considered in default if you:
1. Do not complete podiatric medical school because of academic failure.
2. Withdraw from podiatric medical school voluntarily.
3. Fail to become licensed as a podiatrist in Illinois.
4. Fail to fulfill the required service obligation.

If you default, you must repay IDPH an amount equal to three times the annual scholarship funds for each year you attended podiatric medical school under the award.

What is an HPSA?
- A Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) is a designation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identifying areas with shortages of primary care, dental, or mental health providers.
- You can look up HPSA designations here: https://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov/tools/analyzers/geo/ShortageArea.aspx

Key dates and timeline
- Application window: May 15, 2025 – June 30, 2025. Applications received after June 30 will not be accepted.
- Selection announcement: July 2025.
- Scholarship funds are sent to the recipient’s school after required enrollment verification is completed by the school.

A few practical tips (from a teacher)
- Start your FAFSA early so you have your Student Aid Report ready.
- Request official transcripts well before the deadline to allow time for schools to mail them directly to IDPH.
- If you hope to practice in a specific community, understand that HPSA status can change — be prepared to be flexible.
- Keep copies of every document you submit and note dates when they were sent.

If you want, I can help you check your documents against the list, draft the narrative responses, or make a quick checklist you can follow before you hit Submit.