Health Professions Student Emergency Support Fund
The Health Professions Student Emergency Support Fund (HPSEF) assists health professions students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) who are facing unexpected financial emergencies that could disrupt their education. By covering critical needs, this fund supports students’ well-being, alleviates stress and helps students stay on track academically.
Examples of emergencies funded by HPSEF include accidents, illness, death of a family member, fire damage or theft.
Permissible expenses may include (but are not limited to):
- Emergency travel costs related to a death or serious illness in the immediate family
- Medication or health costs not covered by insurance
- Childcare or other essential expenses due to illness
- Safety needs
- Replacement of essential personal belongings due to theft, fire or other natural disasters
Funding amounts will generally not exceed $1,000 and are subject to fund availability. Funds awarded through HPSEF are considered grants and do not need to be repaid. Contact the SMPH financial aid team at brianne.camacho@wisc.edu for additional financial support or guidance.
Note: Routine expenses (e.g., tuition payments, regular car maintenance) or anticipated costs unrelated to emergencies are not eligible for this fund.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for funding, applicants must:
- Be an enrolled SMPH health professions student
- Experience a temporary financial hardship resulting from an emergency, accident or other critical incident
- Provide documented records of expenses directly tied to the emergency (e.g., receipts, estimates)
Find answers to common questions about eligibility, timelines and documentation requirements in our Guidelines and FAQs (PDF).
Application Process
- Submit the application
- Complete the online application form
- Allow time for review
- The HPSEF Committee will review applications within 3–5 business days
- Applications submitted over weekends or university holidays may experience slight delays
- Watch for notification
- You will be notified of the committee’s decision via email, typically within one week of submission
- Prepare for disbursement
- Make sure you are enrolled in eRefunding via your MyUW Portal
- If eRefunding is not set up, checks will be sent to the address on file in the MyUW Portal
Funding Sources
This fund is made possible through the generous support of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, the Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association, and generous alumni.