Medical Student Education Program (MSE)

The Medical Student Education (MSE) Program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA is tasked with improving healthcare services for people who are geographically isolated, economically or medically vulnerable. The MSE Program reflects HRSA's mission by targeting efforts to expand and support medical education in states projected to face significant shortages of primary care physicians. The MSE Program seeks to provide funding to public medical schools located in the top quartile of states with anticipated shortages in the primary care physician workforce through 2038. These states include Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. Only accredited public, nonprofit osteopathic and allopathic medical schools in these states are eligible. This strategic focus aims to address long-term gaps in healthcare access by supporting institutions that train future primary care providers in regions most in need. Under this funding opportunity, HRSA anticipates making eight awards with a total program funding of approximately $13 million. Individual award amounts will range from a floor of $1 million to a ceiling of $1.625 million. Matching funds are required, but the specific amount is not detailed in the forecast. Funding can be used to support the expansion of medical education programs, including curriculum development and student support mechanisms designed to prepare medical students for careers in primary care. The eligibility criteria are stringent. Only public and state-controlled institutions of higher education in eligible states are considered. Additionally, eligible schools must be accredited by either the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) or the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), and they must not currently be receiving MSE funding. HRSA provides a list of 23 public medical schools across six eligible states (Appendix A, not included in the source) as currently eligible. The application process is conducted electronically and will open on April 6, 2026. Applications must be submitted by May 21, 2026, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. HRSA anticipates making award announcements by July 31, 2026, with projects expected to begin on September 1, 2026. As this is a forecasted opportunity, applicants are advised to monitor Grants.gov and HRSA communications for the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and further submission instructions. For inquiries about this grant, Olivia Kirby is listed as the primary contact. She can be reached at 301.945.5268 or [email protected]. No PDF or NOFO URL is currently available. The program is recurring and historically forecasted annually, suggesting potential future cycles beyond the 2026 round. Prospective applicants should plan for timely submissions and prepare accordingly for future opportunities if not currently eligible.