Frequently asked questions about the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program

Financial benefits for tuition, fees and the stipend only apply to the time you are an Abigail Geisinger Scholar. We don’t forgive previous debts.

Yes. The loan amount forgiven is taxable income during the employed forgiveness period. You’ll be responsible for any resulting tax debt. Geisinger will provide a schedule showing the principal award amounts paid for academic year tuition, fees, and stipend and loan fund forgiveness by calendar year. At the end of each calendar year of active employment, you’ll be provided a 1099 statement showing the taxable income for the calendar year.

Future tax liability is mitigated by the fact that interest will not accrue during medical school, residency or employment. You may be responsible for quarterly tax payments to the IRS on the forgiven amount recognized as income in each quarter. Ask your tax advisor for more details about your tax situation.

Yes. Geisinger agrees to forgive recipients’ obligation to repay any remaining loan funds if: 

• The recipient dies
• The recipient becomes disabled or stops working for Geisinger involuntarily, and not for cause (e.g., Geisinger reduces its work force or eliminates positions and nothing comparable is available)

Per IRS guidance, the total amount forgiven will be reported as taxable income, and a 1099 will be issued in the year the loan is forgiven.

No. 

Each scholar will receive their final amortization schedule during their first month of employment at Geisinger. The taxable portion of the loan forgiveness will be included on a 1099 at the end of each calendar year. Parental leave and vacation policies are applicable to all Geisinger employees regardless of scholar status, as defined in the Geisinger HR handbook.

This income will be considered taxable in the year the loan amount is forgiven. Ask your tax advisor for more details about your tax situation.

Yes, you’ll receive a monthly $2,000 stipend beginning Aug. 15 of your first year and ending when you complete medical school (up to four years).

Yes, you can receive supplemental income from Geisinger Commonwealth or Geisinger for services unrelated to the scholar program.

Contact Devon Bremer at dmbremer1@geisinger.edu.

There are clinical experience benefits. Abigail Geisinger Scholars are prioritized to Geisinger sites and assigned a Geisinger clinician as an advisor for their four years. They can also pursue research projects with Geisinger investigators.

You can pursue a research year or another degree if Geisinger waives the expectation of graduating within four years. Scholars’ financial support is limited to four years total.

You may continue in the program if you need to take medical or personal leave if Geisinger waives the expectation of graduating within four years.

You must remain in good standing with Geisinger Commonwealth. 

If you fail to remain in good standing, the service award will be terminated, and any award already received must be repaid with interest equal to the rate set by Federal Direct Subsidized Loans. The amounts must be repaid in equal monthly installments over 10 years. If your award is converted to a loan due to performance and/or quality concerns, loan repayment begins within 10 days of written notice from Geisinger.

The curriculum is the same for all Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine students. Abigail Geisinger Scholars can shadow Geisinger signature programs such as Geisinger 65 Forward, the Fresh Food Farmacy^®, Geisinger at Home, the MyCode^® Community Health Initiative and CommunityCare FQHC.

We do plan to increase our emphasis on primary care for all students, and we offer a Primary Care 3+3 Accelerated Program.

Scholars are given priority to a Geisinger clinical site, but they may indicate a preference for the Guthrie Campus. Geisinger Commonwealth uses a lottery system for campus assignment. You’ll receive your assignment before orientation.

The residency programs in internal medicine and pediatrics are three years long and allow for board certification. The residency in medicine-pediatrics covers both specialties in four years, leading to board certification in both. Scholars who pursue a med-peds residency will be expected to provide patient care across all ages.

No — residency is still part of your training, not your service.

Yes, but the residency Match prohibits guaranteeing positions in residency programs.

Yes, base salary is competitive with clinics and healthcare systems. Geisinger benchmarks to national survey data and the healthcare system shares data with 61 clinics nationwide to be able to offer some of the most competitive salaries. Salaries will be comparable to other non-scholar Geisinger employees based on their years of experience.

Scholars are expected to work full-time. We try to match scholars to their preferred locations and interests, but the final decision is based on Geisinger’s needs. You can request relocation, but it’s not guaranteed — just like it wouldn’t be guaranteed for any other physician. We may also ask you to transfer to a different location, based on staffing needs.  

This program is designed to encourage scholars to stay in primary care or psychiatry. If you choose to pursue a fellowship, you can only do it after you complete your service obligation to Geisinger.