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Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant Scholarship

Ellis Medicine is pleased to offer a new scholarship opportunity for students pursuing health professions leading to a degree as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

About the Scholarship Award

The Nurse Practitioner (NP)/Physician Assistant (PA) scholarship pays for tuition. The scholarship does not pay for tuition costs unrelated to the degree/program.  In return for each school year of support received, scholars agree to provide full-time services for two years at an Ellis Medicine location. The scholar may request one or two years support. Monies will be paid directly to the educational institution.  The educational institution is required to submit an invoice to Ellis Medicine for payment of tuition and fees for each term.  An official college transcript will be submitted each semester to the Ellis Medicine Human Resources Department before funds will be released.  Scholarship amounts made under this program will be taxable under applicable state and federal tax laws at the time of forgiveness (i.e. when the scholarship recipient has satisfied the full-time service commitment to Ellis Medicine).

Eligibility:

To be eligible for this Scholarship, the student must:

  • Be US Citizen or US National.
  • Be Enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time student.
  • Be attending or accepted to attend a fully accredited school or program located in a State, the District of Columbia, or US territory.
  • Submit a completed application 
  • In good Academic Standing with a 3.0 GPA
  • Not a current employee of Ellis Medicine and participating in the tuition assistance program.

Commitment:

In return for each school year of support received, scholars agree to provide full-time primary services for two (2) years at an Ellis Medicine approved site in the area of greatest need to which they are assigned by the VP, Physician Services.  There is a minimum 2 year full-time service commitment.

Licensure:

Scholars must be permanently licensed in their scholarship-supported profession prior to commencing service. Credit towards fulfillment of the scholarship commitment will not be given in absence of current, full, permanent, unencumbered, unrestricted health professional license.  All nurse practitioners and physician assistants must have successfully passed a discipline-specific national certification exam prior to beginning their service commitments and are expected to take the appropriate certification exam at the earliest possible date.

Application Process:

Students must submit a completed application package to the Ellis Medicine Human Resources Department., 600 McClellan Street, Schenectady, NY 12304, by September 1, 2012.

All applications must include:      

  • Completed application form.
  • Proof of citizenship.
  • A acceptance report/verification of good standing signed by a school official.
  • Academic letter of recommendation from Department Chair, faculty advisor or a  faculty member of that academic program.
  • Non-academic letter of recommendation for an individual who is familiar with the applicant’s professional, community or civic activates.
  • Unofficial transcript.
  • Current tuition and fee schedule.
  • Essay on the topic of your commitment to pursue a career in health care, experiences or activities you have participated in that have prepared you to work with underserved populations and how you will contribute to the mission, vision and values of Ellis Medicine in your role as a NP/PA.

If you have any questions about the application materials required please call Ellis Physician Services at 518.243.3530.

Selection Process:

The Scholarship will be awarded by a committee consisting of:

  • Ellis Medicine Vice President, Physician Services
  • Ellis Medicine Human Resource Representative. 
  • Peer NP/PA’s
  • Ellis Medical Group (EMG) Chair or designee
  • EMG Resources Committee Chair or designee
  • Workforce Committee Representative

Based upon review of the application packets, students will be interviewed by representatives of the committee prior to the selection.  References may be contacted prior to the applicant’s interview.

Notification Process:

Once interviews have concluded, members of the committee will review and make a decision on the chosen student.  The selected candidate will be verbally notified by the Ellis Medicine Human Resources Department.  All remaining applicants will be notified in writing within two weeks of the decision.

Termination of Agreement:

The Vice President of Physician Services or his/her designee may terminate a scholarship contract for a school year if, on or before June 1 of the school year, the scholar submits a written request to terminate the contract for that school year to the VP, Physician Services and repays all amounts paid to or on behalf of the scholar of that school year.

Scholars who are dismissed from school for academic or disciplinary reason or who voluntarily terminate academic training before graduation from the educational program for which the scholarship was awarded will be declared in breach of their scholarship commitment and held liable to Ellis Medicine for repayment of all funds paid to the school on their behalf.  The amount owed will be paid in full within 3 years of the date of default. No interest will be charged on any part of this debt during the 3 year repayment period.

Scholars who for any reason fail to complete their service commitments after the completion of training will be in breach of their scholarship commitments.  When scholars default on their contracts for this reason Ellis Medicine shall be entitled to recover damages equal to three times the scholarship award plus interest.