by Jim Fessenden

"Massachusetts, which is experiencing a shortage of primary care physicians, has allotted $10 million from the state’s 2026 supplemental budget to UMass Chan Medical School for a pilot scholarship program intended to boost the number of medical students going into family medicine. The proposal was drafted and introduced by Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) and received the support of both the House and Senate and was signed by Gov. Healey on Friday.

The pilot scholarship, which runs through 2033, provides aid to medical students pursuing family medicine careers who demonstrate financial need and commit to practicing for five years in an approved community health center in an underserved area or hospital health care system.

“As Massachusetts and the nation grapple with primary care physician shortages, we are grateful that lawmakers have stepped forward with this bold and creative proposal to incentivize medical students to enter into family medicine and serve our most vulnerable populations in the commonwealth,” said Chancellor Michael F. Collins. “As the only public medical school in the state, we are excited to be part of this initiative and doing our part to address the growing demand for primary care physicians practicing in the state.”