Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) Program

The Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program is a federal funding opportunity administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program is designed to expand and sustain graduate medical education in community based settings, particularly those that serve rural and medically underserved populations. Through this initiative, HRSA seeks to strengthen the primary care workforce by supporting accredited residency training programs that prepare physicians and dentists to deliver high quality care in areas with limited access to healthcare services. The primary purpose of the program is to provide financial support for the training of residents in community based ambulatory patient care centers. The program focuses on increasing the number of residency positions in primary care specialties such as family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, geriatrics, and dentistry fields. Funding is intended to support new residency positions that expand capacity beyond an established baseline and remain within accreditation limits. The program places emphasis on training in real world community settings where providers are most needed. Funding under this opportunity is structured to provide an interim payment rate per resident full time equivalent, specifically 160000 dollars per resident FTE. These funds are intended to cover costs associated with training, including faculty support, clinical training infrastructure, and administrative coordination necessary to operate residency programs. The program distinguishes between establishment awards for new teaching health centers and future opportunities for maintenance or expansion awards. Funds must be used in accordance with federal grant regulations and are restricted to supporting eligible residency training activities. Eligibility is limited to community based ambulatory patient care centers that operate accredited primary care residency programs, either independently or through a graduate medical education consortium. Eligible entities include federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, community mental health centers, tribal health organizations, Title X funded entities, and similar community based providers. Both nonprofit organizations with and without 501c3 status may apply, along with certain tribal organizations and other qualifying entities. Applicants must demonstrate that proposed resident positions exceed their current baseline and meet accreditation requirements. The application process is expected to require electronic submission through the Grants.gov system by the stated deadline. Applicants will need to prepare detailed program descriptions, residency training plans, and documentation of accreditation and eligibility. Although specific evaluation criteria are not fully outlined in the forecast notice, applications are typically assessed based on program quality, capacity to train residents effectively, alignment with workforce needs, and compliance with federal requirements. The timeline for this opportunity indicates a forecasted posting date in September 2026, with an application deadline in mid November 2026. Awards are expected to be issued around June 2027, with project activities beginning in July 2027. This opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds, making it more accessible to eligible community based providers. The program appears to be part of an ongoing federal initiative, suggesting that similar funding cycles may recur in future fiscal years. For additional information, applicants may contact the program representative listed in the notice. The contact provided is Xiomara Santana, who can be reached via email or phone for inquiries regarding eligibility, application requirements, and program details. This forecasted opportunity provides advance notice to potential applicants, allowing organizations time to prepare for submission once the full funding announcement is released.