About Us

Established in 1987, HPEF is the state's only non-profit foundation statutorily created to encourage persons from underrepresented communities to become health professionals and increase access to health providers in medically underserved areas. Supported by grants, donations, licensing fees, and special funds, HPEF provides scholarship, loan repayment and programs to students and graduates who agree to practice in California's medically underserved communities. Housed in the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, HPEF's track record of delivering health providers to areas of need has resulted in approximately 12,882 awards totaling more than $146.7 million to allied health, nursing, mental health and medical students and recent graduates practicing in all 58 counties of California.

Mission Statement

The Health Professions Education Foundation (HPEF) improves access to healthcare in underserved areas of California by providing scholarships, loan repayments, and programs to health professional students and graduates who are dedicated to providing direct patient care in those areas. In return for this support, recipients agree to provide direct patient care in a medically underserved area (MUA) of California for a period of one to three years.