Mississippi State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)- Healthcare Professional

The Mississippi State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) recruits and retains licensed physicians—specifically MDs and DOs—to provide primary, dental, or mental health care services in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas within Mississippi. Participants must commit to a minimum of two years of full-time practice at an approved public or private healthcare organization located in one of these underserved areas, which encompass geographic regions, specific populations, or facilities lacking adequate provider access. In exchange for this service commitment, eligible participants may receive up to $150,000 in educational loan repayment assistance to alleviate the financial burden of their medical training. The program is administered by the Mississippi Department of Health’s Rural Health and Population Studies office, with solicitation number 2026-RFA-172, and responses are due by June 1, 2029. Only healthcare professionals practicing in Mississippi are eligible, and the program is open to both public and private practice sites meeting the HPSA criteria. Primary contact for program inquiries is Niyoki Bryant, Graduate Medical Education Specialist, reachable at niyoki.bryant@msdh.ms.gov or 601-576-7874, with additional support available from Larika Rand, Director of Grant Support and Compliance, at larika.rand@msdh.ms.gov or 601-576-7067. The program operates under state oversight and is designed to address persistent workforce gaps in critical health sectors across rural and underserved communities within the state. All applicants must ensure their intended practice site is officially designated as a HPSA and meets program compliance standards, and placement must occur within Mississippi. Participants are required to begin service at an approved facility within the program's timeframe after acceptance to remain eligible for repayment funds.