This page is a living document seeking to aggregate resources for early career healthcare learners to identify opportunities & resources specific to Maine. 
Please feel free to email a.huang-saad@northeastern.edu with any suggestions or comments.

The Maine Relocation Advantage

• The Alfond Leaders Student Debt Reduction Program provides student loan repayment assistance to people who live and work in Maine in a STEM-designated occupation at a Maine-based employer.

• Student Loan Repayment Tax Credit. Those with student loans may be eligible for up to $2,500 in Maine income tax credits when you file your 2023 taxes. See the link for more information. 

Maine Healthcare Gap Year Opportunity

• Northeastern’s Roux Institute Post-Baccalaureate, Pre-Clinical Healthcare Gap Year in Maine Fueled by an Industry Partnerships grant from the Maine Department of Labor, Northeastern’s Roux Institute and Bouvé College of Health Sciences have partnered with Maine’s premier healthcare systems and community health clinics to host a Post-Baccalaureate, Pre-Clinical Gap Year program. This innovative non-degree program allows aspiring healthcare professionals to gain valuable experience in providing direct patient care or essential behind-the-scenes services.

Maine Based Healthcare Support/Training Programs 

• Maine Healthcare Training Programs (Training for ME):. Maine offers healthcare training programs that are free, earn while you learn, mid/short term, and long term degree programs. This is a great resources to find the right opportunity for you.
• Healthcare Office Pre-Apprenticeship: The Healthcare Office Pre-Apprenticeship prepares students with foundational skills and a direct pathway to interview for employment and/or continued training as a Medical Office Apprentice at Northern Light Health or Maine Medical Partners.
• The Doctors for Maine’s Future Program 

Maine Healthcare Degree Programs

• For those thinking about graduate school in the healthcare field, USM Graduate Programs can be found at this link.  USM offers the following Healthcare related programs:  
  • Athletic Training 
  • Biology 
  • Counseling (Rehabilitation, Clinical Metal Health) 
  • Dual Degree Option (Public Health & Law) 
  • Educational Psychology: Applied Behavioral Analysis 
  • Occupational Therapy 
  • Nursing (variety of programs) 
  • Family Nurse Practitioner 
  • Public Health 
  • Social Work 
  • Statistics – Biostatistics Concentration 

Non-Maine Career Resources

Pre-Med/Medical School Advising 

• National Association of Advisors for Health Professions
• Your Journey through Premed to Residency 
• Preparing for the MCATS

Graduate School Information 

• Grad School General Info: Great information for guiding you through the idea of going to graduate school

National Healthcare Professional Associations

• Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC): a lot of great information under Resources & Services 
• American Medical Association Student Programs 
• Association of American Medical Colleges 
• American Dental Education Association 

LOAN & REPAYMENT PROGRAMS 

• Loans for the Health Professions 
• National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Programs The National Health Service Corps, run by the federal Health Resources & Services Administration, offers three different loan repayment programs for healthcare providers. The same application applies to all three programs, but you can only apply for one program in total. These offer loan repayment assistance in exchange for at least two or three years of service in certain locations: 

• • NHSC Loan Repayment Program: This option is for primary care medical, dental, or mental health providers. In exchange for two years of employment in an HPSA, you can receive up to $50,000 in loan repayment for full-time work or up to $25,000 for part-time work. A contract extension beyond two years is possible, which can help you pay off your remaining outstanding loan balance. 
  • NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program: This option is for trained and licensed substance use disorder treatment providers, particularly for opioid addiction. You must work in a primary care medical, dental or mental health discipline at an NHSC-approved substance use disorder treatment site in a HPSA. You can get up to $75,000 for three years of full-time work or $37,500 for part-time work. 
  • NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program: Also focused on providers of substance use and opioid addiction treatment, this program provides a larger amount of student loan repayment assistance if you commit to working in a rural area. You can earn up to $100,000 in assistance for three years of full-time work or $50,000 for part-time work.
• State-specific Programs In addition to federal agencies, many states offer forgiveness programs for healthcare workers. These programs often require participants to work in rural communities, HPSAs, or other high-need areas.  Award amounts and service commitments vary—and whether or not the award amount is taxable as income depends on the program. To find state opportunities specific to your discipline, explore lists maintained by industry organizations like the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Dental Education Association.