The University of Arizonaβs College of MedicineΒ β Phoenix will open a medical school branch in Yuma, partnering with Onvida Health, to help address a severe shortage of rural doctors.
UA President Suresh Garimella and Onvida Health President and CEO Robert Trenschel were scheduled to announce details of the plans at a special Arizona Board of Regents meeting Thursday.
A three-year primary care accelerated pathway program will be offered at the new regional branch starting in the academic year 2026-27, to lead students to an M.D. or doctor of medicine degree.
Onvida Healthβs total investment will exceed $4 million in the programβs first full year, funding the expansion, more than $800,000 in full-tuition scholarships, operating support, facilities, technology, and clinical resources, the regents' agenda shows.
βDuring the first three years of this partnership, up to 45 qualified students β 15 per year β from a competitive applicant pool who are committed to careers in primary care β internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics β will be admitted to the program and awarded full tuition scholarships funded by Onvida Health," UA announced Wednesday.
The UA and Onvida Health Yuma Medical Center signed an agreement Nov. 5 to establish the regional branch, whose official name is βThe University of Arizona College of Medicine β Phoenix, Yuma Branch in Collaboration with Onvida Health.β
The program will be split into two halves β the first 18 months of preclinical curriculum at the collegeβs Phoenix campus, and the second 18 months of clinical training at the Yuma campus, which will include required clerkships, sub-internships, and critical care rotations.
Yuma has an urgent need for health-care professionals and access to care, the regents' agenda materials say.
The program is part of the Board of Regents'Β AZ Healthy TomorrowΒ initiative to build Arizona's health-care workforce.
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