According to projections, the medical community will experience a shortage of physicians, especially in family practice and academic medicine, in the coming years. Recent surveys report debt from medical school, as well as pay, influences the decision of medical students regarding their choice of specialization.
Today the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University will announce that beginning in July, all incoming students will be awarded full scholarships to cover tuition, which is estimated to cost $43,500 annually. Students will be responsible for living expenses, which includes fees, equipment and books, and this total is estimated to cost $21,800. According to the school’s Web site, the goal is to train physician investigators who teach and conduct research on topics such as new treatments, technologies and advancements.
The scholarships will be funded initially through money generated by the school’s operations and endowment, and will be fully funded in the future by the endowment. The school will not require a career commitment or repayment if graduates quit or choose to practice in a clinical setting.