NEW CASTLE – The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) announced funding Wednesday through Delaware’s Rural Health Transformation Program to help recruit and retain physicians serving rural communities in Kent and Sussex counties.

The funding supports two programs: one providing educational awards to eligible medical students and another providing housing and relocation assistance to eligible physicians in residency training. In return, recipients will commit to five years of practice in rural Delaware.

“Having a strong health care workforce is essential to making sure Delawareans can get the care they need close to home,” said DHSS Secretary Christen Linke Young. “These investments give us another way to address workforce needs in our rural communities by helping attract future physicians to our state and creating more opportunities for them to stay and serve our communities.”

The Delaware Health Care Commission has entered into an agreement with Thomas Jefferson University’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College. In its first year, the program will provide two $70,000 educational awards to eligible medical students for a total investment of $140,000 in future physicians who commit to practicing in rural Delaware.

In addition, DHSS has budgeted approximately $1.24 million for housing and relocation awards for physicians in graduate medical education programs at Bayhealth, Beebe Healthcare, ChristianaCare, Nemours and TidalHealth. The funding is expected to support 61 awards averaging $20,000 each.

Eligible applicants across the two programs include third- and fourth-year medical students who complete at least one clinical rotation in Delaware, future students at Delaware’s new medical school, which is expected to open in 2028, and medical residents and fellows who complete a clinical rotation in Delaware’s rural communities.

Award recipients will commit to five years of practice in rural Delaware, with at least 50% of their practice serving rural communities. Up to three years of applicable residency training may count toward the five-year commitment. Telehealth services will not count toward the requirement.

“Medical school and residency are critical points in a physician’s career when they are deciding where they want to live and practice,” said Delaware’s Surgeon General Dr. Neil Hockstein. “By creating opportunities for physicians to establish roots in Delaware during their education and training, we have a better opportunity to build the workforce our communities will need in the years ahead.”

Participating institutions are currently marketing the programs and collecting applications. The Delaware Health Care Commission will process applications and execute service agreements with selected medical students, residents and fellows before funds are released. Interested medical students, residents and fellows should contact their respective institutions for information on how to apply.

The two workforce projects complement Delaware’s new medical school, another Rural Health Transformation Program investment, connecting medical education, clinical training and long-term service in rural communities.

Delaware’s Rural Health Transformation Program is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $157,394,963.86 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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