$2 Million Endowment Targets Nevada Rheumatologist Gap at UNLV

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced a $2 million endowment for the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV. The fund is designed to address Nevada’s shortage of specialty doctors by financing a fellowship position annually.

The money will support training in rheumatology, a field where Nevada ranks 49th nationwide. UNLV Health data shows the state has one rheumatologist for every 125,000 people. These specialists treat conditions such as joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other autoimmune diseases.

Dr. Alison Netski, dean of the School of Medicine, stated that the endowment is permanent. She explained that creating new residency programs often relies on federal support and hospital funds, which can strain financial sustainability. Netski called the partnership with Anthem critical for securing the future of Nevada’s physician workforce.

Fellows are already licensed doctors who have completed their residencies. They train under experienced physicians while treating patients from their first day of the program. Kate Martin, senior associate dean for graduate medical education, confirmed that all patient care is supervised by attending physicians at UNLV Health.

Joann Strobbe, president and CEO of UNLV Health, noted that rheumatology conditions often require lengthy appointments to diagnose correctly. She said the shortage makes it difficult for patients to secure timely care. The addition of fellows allows physicians to see more patients by working alongside them.

UNLV leaders aim to keep trained doctors in the state. Martin cited a statistic indicating that doctors have an 80% likelihood of remaining in a community where they completed their training. Strobbe said the health system plans to recruit a new fellow after each one graduates, with the hope that they will become full-time faculty members.

Netski added that public announcements of such initiatives help demonstrate the School of Medicine’s impact on Nevada. The endowment will fund the fellowship position for the life of the school, ensuring a continuous pipeline of trained rheumatologists for the state.