New Medical School Branch to Tackle Physician Shortage in Arizona’s Rural Areas
Arizona is set to address its pressing rural healthcare challenges through a collaborative effort between the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix and Onvida Health. This partnership aims to establish the state’s first rural regional medical school branch, focusing on mitigating the dire physician shortage in these regions.
“We are excited to bring the University of Arizona’s innovative M.D. program to Yuma County in partnership with Onvida Health,” stated University President Suresh Garimella. He emphasized the importance of this initiative in meeting the healthcare needs of Arizona’s rural areas.
The College of Medicine – Phoenix plans to roll out a three-year Primary Care Accelerated Pathway in July, leading to an M.D. degree. This program will offer clinical training exclusively at Onvida Health in Yuma.
In the initial phase, up to 45 students, with 15 admitted annually from a highly competitive pool, will be selected for the program. These students, committed to primary care disciplines like internal medicine, family medicine, and pediatrics, will receive full tuition scholarships funded by Onvida Health.
Students will undertake the first 18 months of foundational science education in Phoenix before transitioning to Yuma for another 18 months focused on clinical training across eight core specialties. The program is designed to support up to 300 rotations per year, providing additional opportunities for other University of Arizona colleges to engage at the Yuma site.
“This unique partnership marks a defining moment for rural health care in Arizona,” commented Dr. Robert J. Trenschel, president and CEO of Onvida Health. He highlighted the long-term benefits of integrating medical education with community health initiatives.
Arizona’s current need for approximately 500 more primary care physicians underscores the significance of this initiative, according to the Arizona Graduate Medical Education Policy Brief.
Dr. Fred Wondisford, dean of the College of Medicine – Phoenix, noted, “Onvida Health has been a trusted clinical training affiliate of the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix for more than a decade.” He expressed optimism about expanding clerkship and residency opportunities in Yuma County.
Nearly 70% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-designated primary medical Health Professional Shortage Areas are in rural locales. Since Yuma was flagged as a shortage area in 2013, Onvida Health has been actively working to close the gap with its Family and Community Medicine Residency Program.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to building a healthier tomorrow and address the growing need for primary care physicians in underserved communities,” Wondisford added.
The collaboration involves a financial commitment of $32.9 million from Onvida Health over eight years, aimed at supporting full-tuition scholarships and establishing the Yuma branch. This investment underscores Onvida Health’s dedication to fostering community-focused healthcare.
“Since 2013, we’ve proudly graduated 65 family medicine residents, with 34% choosing to remain in our community,” said Dr. Kristina Diaz, president of Onvida Health Medical Group. She expressed enthusiasm about the partnership’s potential to enhance the residency program and local healthcare services.
Read More Here
