Article Archive

Steven M. Thompson Program Receives $1.5 Million Annually to Address Physician Shortages in Low-income Communities

Issue: October 2009

Assemblymembers Hector De La Torre, Joe Coto, Paul Fong, and health community leaders have announced permanent funding of $1.5 million annually to the Steven M. Thompson Program to encourage doctors to serve in low-income communities.

De La Torre, Assemblymember 50th District, authored Assembly Bill 2439, which generates more than $1.5 million per year to fund the Thompson Program from a mandatory $25 fee from physicians when they renew their license in the State of California. The Program will provide an estimated $105,000 in loan reimbursements for physicians to practice medicine in under-served communities throughout California.

The program grants loan forgiveness to those who commit to practice in inner city and rural communities for at least three years. The foundation awarded 16 grants in July, and San Jose’s Gardner Family Health Center was selected to have a participating physician Dr. Kyoko Pena-Robles practice in their clinic.

Back to Article Archive