U of A and partner to open medical school branch in Yuma

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 Health’s total investment will exceed $4 million in the program’s 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.

“During the first three years of this partnership, up to 45 qualified students — 15 per year — from a competitive applicant pool who are committed to careers in primary care — internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics — 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 “The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Yuma Branch in Collaboration with Onvida Health.”

The program will be split into two halves — the first 18 months of preclinical curriculum at the college’s 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' AZ Healthy Tomorrow initiative to build Arizona's health-care workforce.