Current:Home > FinanceHawaii announces first recipients of student loan payment program for health care workers-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Hawaii announces first recipients of student loan payment program for health care workers
View Date:2024-12-24 11:12:05
HONOLULU (AP) — The state has announced the first recipients of a program aimed at helping medical professionals pay off student loans in exchange for a two-year commitment to provide care in Hawaii.
Gov. Josh Green on Friday thanked state lawmakers for providing $30 million to fund the program. An additional $5 million contribution came from Lynn and Marc Benioff to pay student loans for health care workers specifically on Hawaii island, where the Benioffs have a home, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. Marc Benioff is co-founder, chairman and CEO of Salesforce and owns Time magazine.
Green, who is also a doctor, plans to solicit similar contributions from potential benefactors to help pay off more student loans. He wants the Hawaii Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program to become a national model. The state said each of 492 health care workers will have up to $100,000 in loans paid as part of the first round of the program. Health care workers who get their loans paid off also must agree to treat 30% of patients who receive Medicaid or Medicare.
The next period of applications is scheduled to open next summer.
The first group represented Hawaii-based health care workers with outstanding student debt of more than $100,000 and as much as $500,000.
During the pandemic, Hawaii spent $150 million to bring in traveling nurses, doctors and other health care professionals. It also reinforced the need to have more health care workers in Hawaii who understand the community, Green said.
Dr. John Misailidis, who is double board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics, arrived in Hawaii in 2011 for his residency through the University of Hawaii medical school under the weight of $250,000 in student loan debt.
He said he is “extremely grateful” after learning that Hawaii will pay off $100,000 of his debt.
“I really fell in love with the people here,” he said. “I love the local culture … and I’m really grateful to be able to stay.”
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Vermont man is fit to stand trial over shooting of 3 Palestinian college students
- Body believed to be of missing 2-year-old girl found in Philadelphia river
- An indicator that often points to recession could be giving a false signal this time
- YouTuber Adam McIntyre Reacts to Evil Colleen Ballinger's Video Addressing Miranda Sings Allegations
- Padma Lakshmi, John Boyega, Hunter Schafer star in Pirelli's 2025 calendar: See the photos
- 45 Lululemon Finds I Predict Will Sell Out 4th of July Weekend: Don’t Miss These Buys Starting at $9
- Madonna Released From Hospital After Battle With Bacterial Infection
- Polaris Guitarist Ryan Siew Dead at 26
- What’s the secret to growing strong, healthy nails?
- YouTuber Adam McIntyre Reacts to Evil Colleen Ballinger's Video Addressing Miranda Sings Allegations
Ranking
- AP Top 25: Oregon remains No. 1 as Big Ten grabs 4 of top 5 spots; Georgia, Miami out of top 10
- New Mexico Could Be the Fourth State to Add a Green Amendment to Its Constitution, But Time Is Short
- Why Did California Regulators Choose a Firm with Ties to Chevron to Study Irrigating Crops with Oil Wastewater?
- Climate Envoy John Kerry Seeks Restart to US Emissions Talks With China
- US Diplomats Notch a Win on Climate Super Pollutants With Help From the Private Sector
- Polaris Guitarist Ryan Siew Dead at 26
- Kourtney Kardashian Blasts Intolerable Kim Kardashian's Greediness Amid Feud
- Prices: What goes up, doesn't always come down
Recommendation
-
'He's driving the bus': Jim Harbaugh effect paying dividends for Justin Herbert, Chargers
-
New Jersey school bus monitor charged with manslaughter after allegedly using phone as disabled girl suffocated
-
Today’s Climate: Manchin, Eyeing a Revival of Build Back Better, Wants a Ban on Russian Oil and Gas
-
Kim Cattrall Reveals One Demand She Had for Her And Just Like That Surprise Appearance
-
Wendi McLendon-Covey talks NBC sitcom 'St. Denis Medical' and hospital humor
-
New Mexico Wants it ‘Both Ways,’ Insisting on Environmental Regulations While Benefiting from Oil and Gas
-
After 25 Years of Futility, Democrats Finally Jettison Carbon Pricing in Favor of Incentives to Counter Climate Change
-
Human remains found in luggage in separate Texas, Florida incidents