Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
Alabama Medical Scholarship funnels new doctors into rural counties
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Whether it’s time for your annual checkup or you need medical attention quickly, having a doctor nearby matters. But for many people living in Alabama’s rural areas, long travel times are a reality. Of Alabama’s 67 counties, 61 are facing a shortage of primary care providers.
The good news? There’s a Medical Scholarship Program right here in Alabama helping students pursue healthcare careers while bringing more providers to the communities that need them most. Read on for a closer look at the program and how you can apply.
How Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s Medical Scholarship Program is helping rural communities
So how exactly does this medical scholarship program help get more doctors in Alabama’s rural areas?
Here’s how it works:
Medical students receive financial support for their final two years of school as they work toward their degrees. And, in return, scholarship recipients agree to complete their residency and practice for at least three years in an underserved area of Alabama.
The best part: It’s making a real difference.
- As of 2026, 60 scholarship recipients are now practicing as primary care physicians in rural Alabama
- Since 2016, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama has committed $26 million to its Medical Scholarship Program.
This means the program isn’t just helping students get through medical school. It’s also helping more Alabama communities get access to medical care.
Healthcare careers supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s Medical Scholarship Program
Think medical scholarships are only for future doctors? No way!
Healthcare requires all kinds of professionals, and Alabama needs people working in a wide range of fields. That’s why Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s Medical Scholarship Program supports students in a variety of careers.
Some include:
- Primary Care (Family Medicine, Internal Medicine + Pediatrics)
- Behavioral + Mental Health
- Maternal Health, Obstetrics + Certified Nurse Midwifery
- Nursing, including Community College Nursing Students
- Dentistry
Wondering what scholarship recipients have to say? Meet Becca Sumpter. She’s using her scholarship to pursue a career as a certified nurse midwife through UAB’s MSN Nurse-Midwifery Pathway.
The scholarship helped Becca in two important ways:
- Less financial stress. She can pursue her master’s degree without significant debt, taking some pressure off her and her family.
- A meaningful career path. After learning about perinatal outcomes in Alabama and other Southern states, she was inspired to pursue midwifery and help more women access safe care.
“As I started to picture myself becoming a mom, I was concerned to learn about perinatal outcomes in Alabama and other Southern states. The midwifery model of care improves perinatal outcomes and birth experiences in our communities.
I want to give more women across Alabama access to safe care, which will ultimately impact motherhood, childhood and beyond. This work is too important not to pursue it.”
Becca Sumpter
Building stronger healthcare for rural Alabama
If you’re considering a career in healthcare, this scholarship program should be at the top of your must-learn-more list. Not only can it help with the cost of school, but it can also prepare you to serve rural communities across Alabama.
Check out the participating schools below:
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM)
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) at Auburn University
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine
- University of South Alabama (USA) College of Medicine
- Jefferson State Community College
- Calhoun Community College
- West Alabama Community College
- Coastal Alabama Community College
Is Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s Medical Scholarship right for you? Learn more + how to apply.
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