CA AB589

Establishes the Steven M. Thompson Medical School Scholarship Program (STMSSP) within the Health Professions Education Foundation to provide scholarships up to $105,000 per recipient to medical and osteopathic school students who commit to serving in medically underserved areas for at least three years.

Scholarships prioritize applicants who speak Medi-Cal threshold languages, come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, have experience in underserved areas, or commit to primary specialties (family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology).

Creates the Steven M. Thompson Medical School Scholarship Account within the Health Professions Education Fund, funded exclusively by private donations with no General Fund moneys permitted.

Requires scholarship recipients to complete medical school and serve three years full-time in eligible practice settings (community clinics, public hospital clinics, or medical practices in medically underserved areas where at least 50 percent of patients are underserved populations).

Establishes a seven-member selection committee to develop guidelines, select recipients, and determine processes for leaves of absence, with administrative costs capped at 10 percent of total program appropriation.