The Biden administration on Thursday made $19 million in grants available to train primary care residents in rural and under-served communities, part of an effort to address physician shortages.

The funding will support an additional 120 residency slots at community-based ambulatory patient care centers.

“This funding provides our primary care workforce with opportunities to train in areas where they can make a profound impact, and is one of the many steps we’re taking to address long-standing health disparities,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said .

Studies have shown medical students are more likely to practice in the areas they train in after graduation, leading policy makers to put more of an emphasis on residencies in rural and under-served communities.

The awards will go toward expanding residency slots at existing teaching health center sites, which are mostly federally-qualified health centers, rural health clinics and tribal health centers.

Funding may also go toward establishing residencies at new teaching health centers. Private and public institutions of higher education and not-for-profits can also apply.