{"id":284,"date":"2021-06-24T08:07:54","date_gmt":"2021-06-24T08:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.hpsa.org\/?page_id=284"},"modified":"2026-05-23T00:13:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T00:13:38","slug":"why-we-exist","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hpsa.org\/why-we-exist\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
About Us<\/div>

Our Purpose<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

The Problem<\/h2><\/div>

Healthcare systems in the United States struggle with addressing substantial disparities in population health and healthcare1<\/sup>, particularly in less densely populated regions.<\/p>\n

One key factor in these disparities is that large parts of the U.S. have significant shortages of primary, dental, or mental health care providers2<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>

Why are there so many shortage areas?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In short, because students who are from these areas don\u2019t become doctoral level healthcare providers. Students from wealthier backgrounds are more likely to practice in affluent areas similar to where they grew up. Because medical school and other health professional classes are skewed toward students from wealthy households and wealthier students go on to serve fewer patients from urban and rural communities with healthcare workforce needs, physician shortages in these areas are perpetuated. Study after study confirms if students are from a community with healthcare workforce needs, they are more likely to go on to serve in an area similar to where they are from3<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

To increase the number of healthcare providers in these gap areas more students from these communities need to enroll in and successfully complete health professional programs.<\/p>\n

So, what are the factors keeping these students from successfully completing health professional programs?<\/strong><\/p>\n

One key factor is that they don’t know the process. Multiple studies have identified that lack of information is a key reason why students navigating limited access to reliable advising and pathway information do not pursue doctoral-level health professional programs. This information gap is confirmed by students themselves as well. As shared in a recent JAMA article, \u201cMany of us don\u2019t know the little nuances [or applying to medical school] because we didn\u2019t grow up in this milieu.\u201d The process for preparing for and being admitted to health professional school is often simply unknown to these students.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo often students will graduate from high school and enter college, and will say that they are interested in becoming a doctor or a dentist or other health professional, but have no idea what it takes or how to plan their educational experience so that they will be prepared not only academically, but be aware of when to apply, how to get information.\u201d
\n– Dr. Louis Sullican, Altering the Course<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

What HPSA is Doing to Help<\/h2><\/div>

Reaching Students Where They Are<\/strong><\/p>\n

How can we get students from these communities the information and tools they need to be successful health professional applicants and students? By offering resources and services via the internet at no cost.<\/p>\n

The map below shows how the Student Doctor Network, published by HPSA, is reaching these students. Points on the map are SDN members who identified a shortage area zip code as their hometown during registration and have been active within the past year.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

Providing Resources For These Students<\/h2><\/div>

To combat this information gap, HPSA provides free advising, research, educational resources, and pathway programs designed to help students pursue health professions careers. Visit the Resources page to see a list of our donor-supported resources.<\/p>\n

References:<\/p>\n