When exceptional physicians and scientists choose where to build their careers, they look for more than a position. They look for vision, opportunity and the chance to make a lasting impact.
The historic 50-year affiliation between the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) and Renown Health is attracting nationally recognized physicians, specialists, researchers and educators to contribute to the health and well-being of the people of Northern Nevada.
Together, the two organizations have built Nevada’s first and only integrated academic health system, creating new opportunities to advance patient care, expand access to specialty services, accelerate research and strengthen medical education. That vision not only attracts top-tier talent from across the country — it translates directly into better outcomes and greater access for patients throughout the region.
Eric Kim, M.D., associate dean of clinical research at UNR Med and chief of urology at Renown Health, said the opportunity to help build something transformative was impossible to ignore. He came to Reno from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri because he saw the chance to play a key role in shaping the future of academic medicine and clinical research in Nevada.
"The affiliation between Renown and UNR Med, along with their shared vision of building an integrated academic health system, was a big draw for me," Kim said. "There are not many opportunities in our careers to be part of this type of a build and impact an entire community to elevate care broadly."
Ashley George, Ph.D., assistant professor of microbiology and immunology, was similarly drawn by the opportunity to build her research program within a growing academic health environment. Her research examines women's health and the role biological differences play in immune responses, disease risk and treatment outcomes. George brings a strong research background to UNR Med, having completed her doctoral training at Rutgers University and postdoctoral research at the Gladstone Institute and the University of California, San Francisco.
"The collaboration between UNR Med and Renown Health creates opportunities to connect biomedical science research with clinically important questions by facilitating access to clinical collaborators and patients," George said.
Bringing academic medicine to Northern Nevada
Academic medicine is built upon three interconnected missions: patient care, research and education. Recruiting exceptional physicians and scientists strengthens all three.
"The three-part mission of an academic health system has been part of my identity since medical school," Kim said. "As an NIH-funded surgeon-scientist, I strongly believe that providing the best care to patients and teaching trainees happens as an extension of participating in research."
Alongside collaborators at Washington University, Kim has developed an artificial intelligence-based "virtual biopsy" technology known as Diffusion Basis Spectrum Imaging (DBSI). Designed to work alongside MRI technology, DBSI aims to better identify which patients truly need a prostate biopsy.
"Ideally, use of our technology in combination with MRI would eliminate many of the unnecessary prostate biopsies, without missing the patients with clinically significant prostate cancer," Kim said.
If successful in clinical practice, the technology could significantly reduce unnecessary procedures and improve the patient experience, illustrating how an academic health system can connect scientific innovation directly to patient care.
That commitment to translating scientific discovery into real-world health improvements also attracts leading researchers. Brian Gulbransen, Ph.D., recently joined UNR Med as chair of physiology and cell biology following a distinguished career at Michigan State University. Other recent faculty recruits have come from The Ohio State University, Stanford University, Vanderbilt University, and New York University, bringing expertise from some of the nation's most respected academic medical and research institutions.
“UNR Med has a longstanding history of excellence in gut physiology, and the group has worldwide notoriety in the field,” Gulbransen said. “The opportunity to work with my colleagues in this area, take the group in new directions and build translational science was something that was very attractive to me.”
The growing research enterprise is strengthening existing areas of expertise while creating new opportunities for collaboration across disciplines. Together, these efforts are helping build a more connected research ecosystem that can accelerate discoveries, expand clinical research opportunities and ultimately bring innovative treatments closer to patients.
Expanding access to innovation and specialty care
The connection between research and patient care extends beyond individual projects. Patients in Northern Nevada now have greater access to innovative therapies and clinical studies closer to home. Since 2021, Renown's clinical trial portfolio has expanded from approximately 35 to more than 140 active trials.
For Alicia Gingrich, M.D., surgical oncologist at Renown and academic clinical faculty member at UNR Med, that growth reflects the power of integrating academic medicine with patient care. After training at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Gingrich gained experience with one of the nation's most advanced cancer programs and has worked to bring that perspective to Nevada.
"My training at MD Anderson gave me a firsthand understanding of what a highly developed academic cancer program looks like: multidisciplinary care, clinical trials, translational research, molecular characterization, biobanking and close collaboration between clinicians and scientists," she said. "I have been able to bring that perspective to Nevada."
At UNR Med and Renown, Gingrich and her colleagues can connect those clinical experiences with researchers across disciplines, turning questions that arise in patient care into opportunities for investigation.
"The environment at UNR Med and Renown has made clinical research possible in a way that would be much more difficult without the institutional infrastructure around it," Gingrich said. "I can take a clinical question, work with colleagues in pathology, genomics, computational biology and basic science, and begin developing it into a research program."
In addition to caring for patients, Gingrich serves as a principal investigator on cooperative group clinical trials and has helped develop key research resources, including a clinically annotated cancer biorepository. Her work reflects a broader effort to ensure patients in Northern Nevada can access leading-edge treatments and clinical studies without leaving the region.
Creating those opportunities requires investment not only in research and technology, but also in the people who know how to use them.
"There are several examples of upfront investments in technology that have been made to ensure we have the latest and greatest tools available for patient care, including the single-port da Vinci robot and histotripsy," Kim said. "More importantly, it is the investment in people, to have the expertise necessary to provide the best care with the best tools to our patients."
Kim points to Renown's kidney transplant program as one example of what's possible when experienced academic physicians bring their knowledge and leadership to Northern Nevada.
"The kidney transplant program doesn't happen without investment in people who come from traditional academic healthcare backgrounds to build programs here based on their prior experience, knowledge and expertise," Kim said.
Building the next generation of Nevada physicians
The impact of recruiting nationally recognized physicians and scientists extends beyond patient care and research. Every new faculty member also strengthens the educational experience for future physicians, creating more opportunities for students, residents and trainees to learn from leaders in their fields.
"The unique opportunity at Renown and UNR Med to advance health equity through service, research and education was the draw for me," said Anathea Powell, M.D., a colorectal surgeon at Renown and associate professor of surgery at UNR Med.
Powell brings extensive experience from the Indian Health Service, Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health Cancer Institute, along with advanced fellowship training at the National Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
"The growth of the medical staff at Renown is exciting," she said. "Each new hire brings expertise in their area and adds to the collective energy of the medical group. We're able to offer our patients the highest level of surgical care."
Those additions also expand opportunities for medical students, residents and trainees. Alongside its existing graduate medical education programs, UNR Med is developing a surgery residency program at Renown, creating new pathways for surgical training in Northern Nevada.
As more specialists join Renown and UNR Med, learners gain exposure to a broader range of clinical experiences, advanced subspecialty care, research and mentorship from nationally recognized faculty — all without leaving Northern Nevada. For the community, these opportunities help strengthen the pipeline of future physicians who are more likely to train, practice and remain in the Silver State.
A rising destination for care
Between July 2025 and July 2026, Renown Health added 164 providers across 13 departments, further strengthening a network of more than 440 physicians and healthcare professionals who serve as academic clinical faculty through the affiliation. Together, they deliver specialized care across Northern Nevada while preparing future healthcare providers through clinical education and training.
Renown already serves as the region's only provider for several specialized treatments and has earned repeated recognition by U.S. News & World Report and Becker’s Hospital Review. Through the affiliation with UNR Med, the health system is attracting nationally recognized physicians, scientists and educators who are advancing patient care, research and medical education.
"I am most excited about the potential to create a more connected research ecosystem that brings together biomedical scientists, clinicians and the patient community," George said.
"As the region continues to expand its clinical research infrastructure, I believe UNR Med and Renown Health have the potential to become nationally recognized for bench-to-bedside human health research and for innovative graduate and medical education," George said.
As that vision takes shape, the benefits extend beyond today's patients. By bringing together exceptional clinical care, innovative research and expanded medical education, UNR Med and Renown are building a healthier future for Northern Nevada. The affiliation is also drawing national attention, attracting top faculty, researchers and learners who recognize the potential of Northern Nevada's growing academic health system.
"One of the most rewarding parts of being at UNR Med and Renown is the possibility of helping develop that future," Gingrich said. "If we can provide excellent specialty care closer to home, train physicians and scientists who want to stay and serve this region and build a research enterprise capable of contributing new knowledge beyond Nevada, then we are doing more than building an integrated academic medical center. We are investing in the long-term health and strength of the region we call home."
