The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine has received more than $4.5 million in state funding to expand graduate medical education programs in Northern Nevada, including new training opportunities for future surgeons, OB/GYN physicians and pulmonary and critical care specialists.
The funding from the Nevada Health Authority will support three UNR School of Medicine programs: a General Surgery Residency, an Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency and a Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship.
The awards are part of the Nevada Health Authority’s latest Graduate Medical Education grant round, which provided funding to nine programs statewide after a review process conducted with the GME Advisory Committee. Applications were evaluated based on program quality, workforce impact and the ability to expand training capacity in communities with the greatest need.
UNR School of Medicine received $1,957,173 for its new Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency, $1,672,444 for the development of a General Surgery Residency and $919,303 for a Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship.
“The expansion of graduate medical education in Nevada is an essential part of our strategic plan to build the workforce pipeline and retain more physicians to practice in our state,” said Paul J. Hauptman, M.D., Dean of UNR School of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer at Renown Health. “Statistics show that nearly 60% of resident trainees remain in the state when they complete their GME training to practice. We are now better able to address physician shortages across our state with this pivotal support from the NVHA.”
UNR School of Medicine received accreditation in February to launch the region’s first OB/GYN residency training program. The program is expected to welcome its first class of three residents in July 2027.
“Nevada has one of the lowest ratios of OB/GYN physicians to population in the United States,” said James Alexander, M.D., chair of obstetrics and gynecology at UNR School of Medicine and Renown Health. “This residency will provide critical training for physicians who desire to practice obstetrics and gynecology, many of whom will remain in Nevada after their training is complete. This will have a great impact on meeting the need for high-quality health care in our state.”
UNR School of Medicine also plans to launch a Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship through its Department of Medicine. The program will train physicians who provide care for patients with respiratory failure, complex pulmonary disease, trauma and severe critical illness requiring intensive care.
The General Surgery Residency is expected to be a five-year program, with an inaugural class anticipated to begin in 2028 or 2029. The program will be developed through a phased plan using UNR School of Medicine’s Sponsoring Institution infrastructure and partnerships with Renown Health, the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System and regional rural hospitals.
“A surgical residency will establish a sustainable in-state pipeline of general surgeons, improve physician retention and expand access to surgical care, particularly in rural and underserved communities,” said Christos Galanopoulus, M.D., Chair of the Department of Surgery at UNR School of Medicine and Renown Health. “Residents will contribute meaningfully to patient care delivery during training, increasing capacity in high-need settings and supporting health system efficiency. By expanding surgical training capacity, this program will improve health outcomes, improve access, strengthen the healthcare workforce, and contribute to the long-term economic and healthcare infrastructure of the state.”
UNR School of Medicine and Renown Health said the expansion of graduate medical education will help increase physician training opportunities in Northern Nevada. State funding will provide additional support for efforts to train and retain physicians in Nevada.
