Nevada Health Authority awards $15.7 million to expand medical residency and fellowship programs

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In a major push to address statewide physician shortages, Nevada state officials announced over $15.7 million in new grant awards designed to bolster residency and fellowship training programs across the Silver State.

The Nevada Health Authority (NVHA) allocated a total of $15,755,068.00 in Graduate Medical Education (GME) funds across nine recipient programs. The strategic investments cover a broad range of clinical specialties—from family medicine in Carson City to ophthalmology and otolaryngology in Las Vegas—aiming to build a sustainable pipeline of doctors who will remain and practice in Nevada.

A strategic investment in the health care pipeline

Addressing health care workforce gaps has been a focal point for state leadership. According to state officials, expanding residency capacity is one of the most effective ways to retain medical talent, as doctors frequently settle down to practice near the institutions where they complete their residency and fellowship training.

“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.”

The funds were distributed following a review process conducted by the NVHA in coordination with the GME Advisory Committee. Proposals were evaluated on clinical program quality, overall workforce impact, and the potential to expand care in areas with the highest patient 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.”

Award breakdown by institution and specialty

The latest GME grant round targets eight critical specialties: family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pulmonary and critical care medicine, diagnostic radiology, ophthalmology, and otolaryngology.

Funding was allocated across several key health systems and academic medical centers statewide. The UNLV School of Medicine secured nearly $3 million ($2,995,890.00) to support its ophthalmology program, alongside $401,397.00 for otolaryngology. Carson-Tahoe Health received $2,707,094.00 to expand family medicine training in Northern Nevada, while the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada was awarded $2,100,000.00 for diagnostic radiology.

The UNR School of Medicine received funding across three distinct residency areas, including $1,957,173.00 for obstetrics and gynecology, $1,672,444.00 for general surgery, and $919,303.00 for pulmonary disease and critical care medicine. Additionally, Dignity Health was awarded $1,722,415.00 for internal medicine and $1,279,352.00 for its pulmonary and critical care medicine program.

Program information

For further details regarding Grant Round VIII funded projects or general information about the Nevada Graduate Medical Education Program, inquiries can be directed to the NVHA GME team at [email protected].