What is the Arizona Medical Student Loan Program?

What is the Arizona Medical Student Loan Program?
Answer:
The program provides educational loans sponsored by the State of Arizona.
The loan is forgiven for service in an eligible area in Arizona as a licensed physician. Minimum two-year service commitment.
Service will be full-time practice in any of the following locations, as defined in A.R.S. § 15-1721:
(1) A rural AND medically underserved area of Arizona.
(2) A medically underserved area of Arizona.
(3) A medically underserved population of Arizona.
(4) Any Indian Reservation that is located in Arizona
Loans for one or two years have a two-year service commitment. Above the two-year minimum, the commitment is one year of service for each year of loan support, whichever is longer.
There is a maximum of five years of loans granted.
If the service commitment is not met, the loan must be repaid in full at 7% interest plus liquidated damages in the amount of the loan, including tuition, payable within one year of the time that the decision was made not to serve or that service would have begun whichever is later. Simply said, don’t take the loan unless you are serious about service.
Students at two colleges in Arizona currently qualify for consideration: Arizona residents attending the University of Arizona College of Medicine and those attending Midwestern University’s Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM).
The minimum amount of funding per year is the amount of public medical school tuition ($12,844 for 2004-2005). The law allows for additional funding for books, supplies, and some living expenses. The maximum loan, which may vary yearly, is set by law, and is subject to the availability of funds. In 2004-2005, the amount approved by the Board was up to $26,963.
The loan contract is for one year with funding reviewed annually.
Students must reapply each year to the Board of Medical Student Loans.
Students continuing on the program are given priority consideration by the Board of Medical Student Loans.
Upon graduation, the borrower is expected to complete a residency program in Family Practice, Obstetrics/Gynecology, General Internal Medicine, General Pediatrics, or combined Medicine and Pediatrics.
No later than three years after graduation or four years if required by the residency program (e.g. Ob/Gyn), the physician will obtain a license and begin the service commitment.
Applicant is expected to apply for financial aid utilizing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and applying through his/her University’s Office of Student Financial Aid. Need may be a consideration. If the cost of attendance exceeds the amount of the Arizona Medical Student Loan, the student may be eligible for additional funding through other sources.
Contact the College of Medicine Financial Aid Office for an application and information for Federal, State, and University financial aid as well as the Arizona Medical Student Loan Program application.

Student Requirements

Arizona Residency
Admitted/attending The University of Arizona’s College of Medicine or Midwestern University’s Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Desire to be a physician in Arizona serving the medically underserved.
Committed to Family Practice, Obstetrics/Gynecology, General Internal Medicine, General Pediatrics, or combined Medicine and Pediatrics.
Apply on an Arizona Medical Student Loan Program Application to the Board of Medical Student Loans and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Interesting stuff
I am in AZ and am interested in doing Emergency Med. Are there any available programs for me? I am not a citizen but will be a perm. resident.