The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) has been awarded more than $7 million through Nevada's new Rural Health Transformation Program. 

"This funding represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure, expand access to high-quality care, and improve health outcomes for communities across our state,” said Gerald Ackerman, assistant dean for rural programs.

The funding, administered through the Nevada Health Authority (NVHA), is part of the first round of Rural Health Transformation Program grants announced in June 2026. The statewide initiative will invest $36 million in projects designed to improve healthcare access, strengthen rural health systems, and address critical workforce shortages in Nevada's rural and frontier communities. 

Established during the 2025 legislative session through Senate Bill 494, the NVHA was created to coordinate health-related programs, reduce costs, improve quality and increase access to care across the state. 

As part of the RHTP, UNR Med secured funding for a broad portfolio of projects aimed at improving healthcare access and workforce development across rural Nevada. Supported through the Rural Health Outcomes Accelerator Program and the Workforce Recruitment and Rural Access Program, these initiatives address critical needs in physician education, maternal health, emergency medical services, laboratory sciences, tribal health, geriatrics, telehealth and workforce recruitment and retention. 

“We are incredibly grateful to have received funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program,” Ackerman said. “These awards represent critical investments in new and existing programs at UNR Med that will address longstanding healthcare access barriers and workforce challenges faced by residents of rural and frontier Nevada."  

Expanding rural physician training 

The largest award, nearly $3.1 million, will establish the Nevada Rural Graduate Medical Education Consortium, the first statewide consortium dedicated to expanding graduate medical education opportunities in rural and frontier communities. 

Led by UNR Med, the consortium will help rural hospitals develop residency and fellowship training programs by providing accreditation support, faculty development, workforce planning resources, and shared educational tools, including mobile simulation training. The initiative aims to increase the number of physicians who train and ultimately practice in rural Nevada. 

The Department of Family and Community Medicine at UNR Med also received $531,469 to create a new Rural Family Medicine Residency Track in Fallon. The program will allow family medicine residents to complete advanced training at Banner Churchill Community Hospital and other affiliated rural clinical sites, preparing physicians to meet the unique healthcare needs of rural communities. 

In addition, a $410,286 award will launch a Family Medicine Obstetrics Fellowship that will train family physicians to provide comprehensive maternal and obstetrical care in rural and frontier areas. The fellowship is expected to create a direct pathway for physicians to transition from advanced training into long-term practice in underserved Nevada communities. 

Building the rural health workforce pipeline 

Several funded projects focus on developing workforce pathways that encourage learners and health professionals to build careers in rural Nevada. 

A $935,539 award will establish the Nevada Rural Health Workforce Pathways and Apprenticeship Network through the Office of Statewide Initiatives and Nevada Area Health Education Center. The program will create workforce-entry pathways and apprenticeship opportunities to address shortages in primary care, behavioral health, emergency medical services and allied health professions. 

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Sciences received $185,923 to launch a Rural Medical Laboratory Science Program, a one-year post-baccalaureate certificate program designed to address critical laboratory workforce shortages. The accelerated program will prepare graduates to serve in rural hospitals, where laboratory professionals play an essential role in diagnosis and patient care. One student each year will receive full program funding in exchange for a five-year rural service commitment. 

UNR Med's Department of Family and Community Medicine was awarded $316,941 to create a Tribal Health Workforce Transformation Initiative. The project will expand clinical rotations, scholarships, mentorship opportunities and youth career pathway programs designed to strengthen the physician workforce serving Nevada's Tribal Nations and Tribal health systems. 

Supporting providers and strengthening rural health systems 

Additional funding will help support and retain the health professionals already serving rural communities. 

UNR Med received funding to establish the Nevada Rural Patient Safety Organization (PSO), the state's first rural-focused patient safety organization dedicated to helping rural hospitals improve patient safety and quality of care. 

The initiative will provide participating hospitals with secure and confidential event reporting, shared data analysis and dashboards, technical assistance, and collaborative peer learning opportunities. By identifying common risks and supporting data-driven quality improvement efforts, the PSO will help reduce preventable harm, strengthen patient safety practices, and improve healthcare delivery across Nevada's rural and frontier communities. 

Through this statewide network, rural hospitals will be able to learn from one another, share best practices, and access resources that are often difficult to obtain in geographically isolated settings, helping build a stronger and more connected rural healthcare system. 

Project ECHO Nevada received $311,208 to expand tele-mentoring opportunities for rural providers through five new specialty-focused learning networks in geriatrics, infectious diseases, adolescent mental health, speech and swallowing disorders, and obstetrics and women's health. The program connects rural clinicians with specialists, helping providers deliver advanced care close to home while reducing professional isolation. 

The Sanford Center for Aging received $321,188 to develop a Certificate in Interprofessional Geriatrics Care for rural health providers, helping strengthen care for Nevada's growing older adult population. 

In addition, the Sanford Center received $304,372 to expand Medication Therapy Management services for older adults and others with complex medication regimens. 

The program will provide Comprehensive Medication Reviews to identify medication-related problems, reduce polypharmacy, improve medication adherence and help patients better understand their treatment plans. The long-term goal is to improve chronic disease management, reduce unnecessary healthcare utilization, and enhance quality of life, particularly for rural residents who face barriers to specialized medication management services. 

A new Rural EMS Coordinator position, funded through a $263,966 award to the Office of Statewide Initiatives, will also provide statewide coordination and technical assistance for emergency medical services agencies. The position is expected to improve recruitment, retention, and support for EMTs, advanced EMTs, and paramedics serving rural and frontier counties. 

A statewide impact 

Together, the funded initiatives represent a comprehensive strategy to strengthen Nevada's rural healthcare infrastructure by expanding educational opportunities, improving provider recruitment and retention, increasing access to specialty and primary care services, and creating sustainable workforce pathways. 

For UNR Med, the more than $7 million investment reinforces its statewide mission to improve health outcomes and ensure that residents in Nevada's rural and frontier communities have access to high-quality care close to home. Together, these initiatives represent a significant step toward realizing “A Healthy Nevada,” where every resident, regardless of geography, has access to the healthcare services and providers needed to thrive.   

“The Rural Health Transformation funding will not only strengthen individual healthcare organizations and provider capacity in rural Nevada, but these investments will also advance a broader vision of healthier, more resilient rural communities across the state,” said John Packham, Ph.D., associate dean for the Office of Statewide Initiatives.