Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students - Florida A&M University (FAMU) requests approximately $642,932 annually for five years through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program (HRSA-26-096). DPT SOAR will recruit, support, retain, and graduate eligible full-time Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students from economically, educationally, or geographically vulnerable backgrounds who demonstrate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The project directly addresses all three SDS program objectives: increasing enrollment and retention of full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds, increasing the number of graduates practicing in primary care, and increasing the number of graduates working in rural, Tribal, and other medically underserved communities. FAMU’s CAPTE-accredited, 34-month, 103-credit DPT program includes 32 weeks of full-time clinical education. Available program data demonstrate strong student and workforce outcomes, including a 96% graduation rate, 100% post-graduation employment rate, and ultimate pass rates on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) of 100% (AY2022–2023) and 95.5% (AY2023–2024). Available follow-up data indicate that approximately 58% of the 2024 graduating cohort entered primary care–aligned outpatient practice settings, and approximately 33% of graduates work in medically underserved communities. However, the financial demands of DPT education, including tuition and fees, educational supplies, housing and subsistence, transportation and lodging associated with clinical education, NPTE preparation, and licensure-related expenses, may interfere with students’ academic progress and completion. The intensity of the full-time curriculum also limits students’ ability to work consistently while enrolled. Over the five-year project period, DPT SOAR will provide scholarship support for up to 16 eligible DPT students per budget period. Scholarships will support allowable tuition, educational, living, clinical education-related, and licensure-related expenses. Student success services will include faculty advising, peer mentoring, structured tutoring, NPTE preparation, early academic monitoring, and targeted intervention for students experiencing academic or financial challenges. Curriculum and clinical education activities will reinforce primary care competencies, including prevention, health promotion, chronic disease management, direct-access practice, patient education, and interprofessional collaborative care, while continuing preparation for practice in rural, Tribal, and medically underserved communities. Project outcomes will include student retention, degree completion, licensure success, employment in primary care–aligned practice settings, and employment in medically underserved communities. FAMU’s clinical education data demonstrate existing preparation across both primary care and rural/underserved settings. During 2022–2023, 63.5% of Spring 2022 Clinical Education I assignments, 68% of Summer 2022 Clinical Education II assignments, and 52% of Summer 2022 Clinical Education III assignments were completed in rural or medically underserved locations, while outpatient and community-based clinical placements continue to prepare students for primary care practice. DPT SOAR will continue to build on current and emerging opportunities to strengthen the physical therapy workforce that serves primary care needs and rural, Tribal, and other medically underserved communities.
