[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 226 (Monday, November 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 62616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30781]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Proposed Special Factors for Grants for Residency Training and 
Advanced Education in the General Practice of Dentistry Programs for 
Fiscal Year 1998

    Grants for Residency Training and Advanced Education in the General 
Practice of Dentistry Programs are authorized under section 749, title 
VII of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by the Health 
Professions Education Extension Amendments of 1992, Pub. L. 102-408, 
dated October 13, 1992.

Proposed Special Factors

    The following Special Factors are proposed:

Special Factors

    In determining the funding of approved applications, the Secretary 
will consider the following Special Factors:
    Community linkages--This special factor may be addressed by the 
establishment of academic-community linkages, in particular linkages 
between the training program and underserved populations or 
communities. Documentation of such linkages should include verification 
that at least 20% of residents' training time occurs in one or more 
underserved settings. Memoranda of agreement and letters of support 
from the community settings involved should be included in the 
appropriate appendix of the application.
    Establishment of new PGY-1 training positions--To address the 
recommendations of expert panels such as the Institute of Medicine and 
Pew Commission on Health that a year of post-doctoral training be 
available for all dental graduates, and that the majority of these 
positions be in general dentistry programs, this special factor may be 
addressed by the establishment of new postgraduate year-one (PGY-1) 
training positions, either through the establishment of a new program 
or the expansion of an existing program. An increase in the number of 
PGY-2 positions does not address the intent of this special factor.
    Innovative training methods--Examples of ways in which applicants 
address this special factor might include new sponsor/co-sponsor 
arrangements; different organizational and administrative structures; 
expanded private/public sector affiliations and setting linkages; and 
creative applications for current instructional telecommunications and 
computer technologies.
    Peer reviewers will take into consideration the extent to which 
proposals address these Special Factors and adjust their individual 
technical review scores accordingly.
    An announcement will be made in the HRSA Preview for grant programs 
which will conduct competitive cycles in FY 1998.
    The comment period is 30 days. All comments received on or before 
December 24, 1997 will be considered before the final review criteria 
are established. Written comments should be addressed to: Bernice 
Parlak, Division of Associated, Dental and Public Health Professions, 
Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services 
Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 8-101, 5600 Fishers Lane, 
Rockville, Maryland 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-6853; FAX: (301) 443-
1164.
    All comments received will be available for public inspection and 
copying at the Division of Associated, Dental and Public Health 
Professions, at the above address, weekdays (Federal holidays excepted) 
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

    Dated: November 14, 1997.
Claude Earl Fox,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-30781 Filed 11-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P