Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students - Purpose. Northern Arizona University (NAU) Physician Assistant (PA) program’s CARE-PA Initiative builds on the PA program's strong record of recruiting, retaining, and graduating students from disadvantaged backgrounds and preparing them for practice in primary care, rural, Tribal, and other medically vulnerable communities (MVCs). The project will increase enrollment and retention of full-time PA students from disadvantaged backgrounds; increase the number of graduates entering primary care practice; and increase the number of graduates serving rural, Tribal, and MVCs. Need. Arizona faces severe healthcare workforce shortages, with a projected shortage of more than 1,900 primary care providers by 2035. All 15 Arizona counties are designated as Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA). Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to enter primary care and practice in rural, Tribal, and MVCs, where these shortages are most severe. However, students from disadvantaged backgrounds face substantial financial barriers which reduce the likelihood of practice in primary care or in MVCs. Within the NAU PA program, 77% of enrolled students and 64% of graduates are from disadvantaged backgrounds, yet 73% of graduates report educational debt exceeding $100,000. Organizational Capacity and Partnerships. NAU enrolls and provides extensive academic, financial, and wellness support services for students facing educational, economic, and social barriers, such as Native Journey to Academic Success (NJAcS). The PA program, located in a designated HPSA, partners with the Rural Health Professions Program (RHPP), Arizona Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Tribal health organizations, Indian Health Service facilities, federally qualified health centers, community health centers, and healthcare systems to provide a strong pipeline for high-need communities. 100% of PA students complete clinical training in rural, Tribal and high-need communities. Project Approach. The CARE-PA Initiative will address financial barriers through targeted SDS scholarships awarded to full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds with significant financial need. Scholarships will support tuition, educational expenses, and living costs, reducing financial hardship and enabling students to pursue careers aligned with community need rather than financial necessity. Objectives. By 2031, the CARE-PA Initiative will: (1) Increase enrollment of students from disadvantaged backgrounds to >80%. (2) Increase retention of students from disadvantaged backgrounds to 100%. (3) Increase the percentage of graduates entering primary care to >35%. (4) Increase the percentage of graduates practicing in rural, Tribal, and MVCs to >65%. The project will enhance outreach to K-12 students, community colleges, Tribal communities, and disadvantaged populations; provide faculty advising, peer mentoring, academic support, and financial counseling; expand awareness of scholarship opportunities; and strengthen clinical training in primary care and high-need settings. Evaluation. Measures include enrollment and retention of disadvantaged students, scholarship awards, primary care practice rates, practice in MVCs, and workforce contributions following graduation. Data will be collected through university databases, financial aid systems, clinical tracking platforms, alumni surveys, licensing records, and National Provider Identifier data, and incorporate Rapid Cycle Quality Improvement (RCQI). Impact. The CARE-PA Initiative will create a sustainable and replicable model to increase enrollment, retention, and graduation of PA students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and increase the number of PA graduates in primary care and in rural, Tribal, and MVCs.
