The University of Arizona’s College of Medicine – Phoenix first opened its doors in 2007 to an inaugural class of 24 students. Since then, the college has welcomed 18 new classes of students and continued its dedication to train future physicians, scientists, and leaders to optimize health and health care not only in Arizona but worldwide.
Training the Next Generation – Where Arizona Needs Them Most
Currently, Arizona is facing one of its biggest physician shortages. To help with this, the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix announced its new partnership with Onvida Health in Yuma that will launch Arizona’s first rural regional medical school branch. This partnership will highlight the deep roots in the community it takes to bring a medical school to rural areas. “These partnerships take time, communities need to trust us, and why we’re there and what we’re doing. This model only works if the community is invested in having students there; they invest in us, and we invest in them,” said Fred Wondisford, MD, MS, MBA, dean of the College of Medicine – Phoenix.
Fred Wondisford, MD, MS, MBA, dean of the College of Medicine – Phoenix
In the upcoming summer, the new three-year accelerated MD program with clinical training based solely at Onvida Health will be launched. “By training students in rural areas, we hope to inspire them to start their careers there; students who experience the community firsthand are more likely to stay in Arizona and serve the areas that need physicians most,” said Dean Wondisford.
Although this is a step in the right direction, addressing the state’s physician shortage highlights that growing medical education has significant financial challenges. Nowadays, tuition alone does not cover the cost of training a medical student, leading to challenges for both the institutions and students. “Medical education is not a money-making business; the question is how we afford to train more students—and how students afford to be trained,” Dean Wondisford said.
This is where the Onvida partnership has a significant impact with the program offering full-tuition scholarships, an accelerated three-year curriculum, and direct residency placement. “Students can finish faster, graduate with far less debt, and match directly into a residency; it removes a tremendous amount of stress from the traditional match process,” Dean Wondisford explained.
Dean Wondisford at the Onvide Health Announcement in Yuma, AZ
A Forward-Looking Strategy for the College of Medicine – Phoenix
Since becoming dean in 2023, Dean Wondisford has prioritized strengthening campus culture and fostering collaboration and community. “When I arrived, much of the school was still remote,” Dean Wondisford recalled. “Once people came back in person, the culture improved dramatically; students, staff, and faculty were finally together again.” The transition back to in-person engagement has enhanced community among students and staff, creating a vibrant and supportive learning atmosphere.
Now with full accreditation secured through 2031, the College of Medicine – Phoenix’s new 2025–2030 strategic plan focuses on external impact and emphasizes:
- Leading Medicine in Phoenix
- Powered by Partnership
- Driving Discovery
- Distinctly Arizona
- Fueling Growth Through Philanthropy
A Message for Future Students
For students considering the College of Medicine – Phoenix, the medical school offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of Arizona. As a growing institution, students have a direct influence on its development, making it an ideal environment for those seeking meaningful engagement in their education. With in-person interviews and a growing number of regional campuses, the college prioritizes fit, community engagement, and personalized guidance.“This is still a young medical school; our students have a real voice in how the college develops,” Dean Wondisford said.
Set to become the largest allopathic medical school in Arizona, with 145 students in the incoming class, the College of Medicine – Phoenix continues to train the faces of the future, strengthen communities, and ensure that Arizona’s communities have access to highly trained physicians.
About the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to advance its core missions in education, research, clinical care and service to communities across Arizona. The college’s strength lies in our collaborations and partnerships with clinical affiliates, community organizations and industry sponsors. With our primary affiliate, Banner Health, we are recognized as the premier academic medical center in Phoenix. As an anchor institution of the Phoenix Bioscience Core, the college is home to signature research programs in neurosciences, cardiopulmonary diseases, immunology, informatics and metabolism. These focus areas uniquely position us to drive biomedical research and bolster economic development in the region.
As an urban institution with strong roots in rural and tribal health, the college has graduated more than 1,000 physicians and matriculates 130 students each year. Greater than 60% of matriculating students are from Arizona, and many continue training at our GME-sponsored residency programs, ultimately pursuing local academic and community-based opportunities. While our traditional four-year program continues to thrive, we will launch our recently approved accelerated three-year medical student curriculum with exclusive focus on primary care. This program is designed to further enhance workforce retention needs across Arizona.
About the Phoenix Bioscience Core
The Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC) is a 30-acre life sciences innovation district located in downtown Phoenix. It hosts Arizona’s three public research universities—Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona—as well as leading genomics pioneers like the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope, and the International Genomics Consortium. The PBC also collaborates with major healthcare systems, including Banner Health, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Dignity Health, HonorHealth, Phoenix VA, and Valleywise Health, alongside a growing number of emerging life science companies. This unique concentration of research scientists and healthcare professionals fosters unprecedented collaborations, advancing precision medicine from discovery to delivery. To learn more, please visit phoenixbiosciencecore.com.
By: Madisson Simental | February 5, 2026