News of the Week

Brito accepted into NHSC program

Mar 14, 2022

Camilla Brito, PA-C, a 2021 graduate of the FSU College of MedicineCamilla Brito School of Physician Assistant Practice, has been accepted into the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program. 

Funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration, the NHSC program is specifically for students pursuing careers in primary health care. Recipients agree to practice in rural, urban and tribal communities that are designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). 

While the program offers up $120,00 in scholarships for current students, who must agree to work for three years at a designated HPSA site, it also helps recent graduates in the health care field pay off their student loans in return for committing to a similar three-year stint.
 
Brito has accepted a position with the Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) program in Pinellas County, which provides primary care to homeless and uninsured residents. Operating both a Health Clinic and a Mobile Medical Unit, HCH care includes treatment of illness or injury, as well preventive care, education, limited prescription coverage and referrals for lab work, specialty care, dental assistance, behavioral-mental assistance and substance abuse treatment.

The opportunity to work with underserved populations is important to Brito, whose family moved to the United States from Brazil when she was 12 years old. Her father worked in construction and her mother as a housekeeper, and both still do.

“We never had, nor could we afford, health care coverage,” Brito said. “When I started to think about going in to medicine, I knew I wanted to work with the underserved population, the people who were in similar situations as my family, unable to afford health insurance but still needing proper healthcare.

"I'm so excited for this opportunity to serve my community!"