Nevada is putting more than $15.7 million into medical training programs across the state to expand the number of physicians trained in Nevada and increase access to health care.
The Nevada Health Authority announced the new Graduate Medical Education grant awards, which will support residency and fellowship programs in specialties ranging from family medicine in Carson City to ophthalmology in Las Vegas.
The funding was awarded to nine GME programs after a review process conducted by the Nevada Health Authority in consultation with the GME Advisory Committee. Applications were reviewed based on program quality, workforce impact, and the ability to expand training capacity in communities with the greatest need.
"The strength of Nevada's GME Program lies not only in its funding, but in the integrity and expertise behind the award process," said Stacie Weeks, Director of the Nevada Health Authority. "Thanks to the expertise and dedication of the members of the GME Advisory Committee, these new state investments will have a positive and sustainable impact on Nevada communities."
The total amount awarded through the latest GME grant round is $15,755,068. The funds will support physician training programs in family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pulmonary and critical care medicine, diagnostic radiology, ophthalmology and otolaryngology.
The approved programs include Carson-Tahoe Health’s Family Medicine program, which received $2,707,094, and Dignity Health’s Internal Medicine program, which received $1,722,415. Dignity Health’s Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine program received $1,279,352.
University Medical Center of Southern Nevada received $2,100,000 for Diagnostic Radiology, while the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine received $2,995,890 for Ophthalmology and $401,397 for Otolaryngology.
The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine received funding for several programs, including $1,672,444 for General Surgery, $1,957,173 for Obstetrics & Gynecology and $919,303 for Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine.
"Strengthening our state's health care workforce has been a cornerstone of my administration, and a robust physician pipeline is essential to the long-term prosperity of our state,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “The GME grant program stands as one of the most tangible expressions of this vision for Nevada — directly funding the training of physicians who will serve Nevada communities for generations to come."
People interested in reviewing the full list of funded projects can view the GME Funded Projects from Grant Round VIII.
