Mayor of Yuma Douglas Nicholls, State Senator Brian Fernandez, Kristina Diaz, MD, MBA, president of Onvida Health Medical Group, Robert J. Trenschel, DO, MPH, president and CEO of Onvida Health, Fred Wondisford, MD, MS, MBA, dean of the College of Medicine – Phoenix, U of A President Suresh Garimella, Ranita Sharma, MD, executive vice dean of the College of Medicine – Phoenix, Patricia A. Prelock, PhD, provost and chief academic officer at the U of A, Doug Goodyear, chair of the Arizona Board of Regents, and State Senator Timothy Dunn stand on stage to formally cut the ribbon on the groundbreaking collaboration.
Partnership establishes Arizona’s first rural regional medical branch to help address the state’s physician shortage
The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix and Onvida Health are partnering to launch Arizona’s first rural regional medical school branch. Deeply rooted in community, the partnership will address the severe physician shortage facing the rural regions of the state.
“We are excited to bring the University of Arizona’s innovative MD program to Yuma County in partnership with Onvida Health,” said U of A President Suresh Garimella. “Meeting the need for qualified health care professionals in rural communities is paramount for the state’s future, and taking steps like this to meet that need is in our mandate as Arizona’s land-grant institution.”
In July 2026, the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix will introduce a three-year Primary Care Accelerated Pathway leading to an MD degree, with clinical training based entirely at Onvida Health in Yuma. President Garimella shared a video announcing the partnership.
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. Each cohort will complete the first eighteen months of the three-year curriculum, focusing on the foundational sciences, in Phoenix.
This will be followed by eighteen months at the Yuma branch for clinical training across eight core specialties. With capacity to support up to 300 rotations annually, the program will also create opportunities for other U of A colleges to rotate at the site.
“This unique partnership marks a defining moment for rural healthcare in Arizona,” said Robert J. Trenschel, DO, MPH, president and CEO of Onvida Health. “By bringing medical education directly into Yuma County, we’re not just training physicians, we’re investing in the long-term health and vitality of our community – strengthening access to high-quality care for generations to come.”
Primary care is the largest area of need across Arizona with approximately 500 additional physicians needed to meet the current health care demands, based on data from the Arizona Graduate Medical Education Policy Brief.
“Onvida Health has been a trusted clinical training affiliate of the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix for more than a decade. This new chapter will build on that foundation, expanding clerkship opportunities and creating a seamless path from medical school to local residency training and ultimately, to clinical practice opportunities in Yuma County,” said Fred Wondisford, MD, MS, MBA, dean of the College of Medicine – Phoenix.
Nearly 70% of communities designated as primary medical Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) are in rural areas, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Since 2013 — when Yuma was identified as a HPSA with an aging primary care physician population — Onvida Health has been working to bridge that deficit through their Family and Community Medicine Residency Program. This collaboration further enhances these efforts.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to building a healthier tomorrow and address the growing need for primary care physicians in underserved communities,” Wondisford said.
As part of the agreement, Onvida Health is committing $32.9 million over eight years to fund the full-tuition scholarships and support the development of the Yuma regional branch of the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix. This investment ensures the program’s sustainability and reinforces Onvida Health’s dedication to community-centered care.
“Since 2013, we’ve proudly graduated 65 family medicine residents, with 34% choosing to remain in our community,” said Kristina Diaz, MD, MBA, president of Onvida Health Medical Group. “The strong demand for our program reflects the quality and dedication behind it. Our partnership with the University of Arizona marks an exciting next chapter in building a thriving residency program for our region. As one of the first directors of the program and Wildcat alum, this is truly a proud and meaningful day.”
Media Contacts
Thomas Kelly
Interim Director, Marketing and Communications
U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix
Office: 602-827-2607
tlkelly07@arizona.edu
Jenn Lotz Williams, MBA
Director of Public Relations
Onvida Health
Office: 928-336-7595
Cell: 504-376-3253
jwilliams4@onvidahealth.org
About the Onvida Health
Onvida Health is a leading not-for-profit hospital system serving Yuma County and southwestern Arizona. The system includes two hospitals, 430 inpatient beds, 45 outpatient clinics and a free-standing Emergency Department. Onvida Health’s team includes 495 providers across 52 specialties, with 4,000 employees and hundreds of volunteers who work together to deliver high-quality, compassionate care. Together we are committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care in a welcoming and inclusive environment. At Onvida Health, our purpose is clear: to build a healthier tomorrow for the communities we proudly serve.
About the College
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.
The college has embarked on our strategic plan for 2025 to 2030. Learn more.
December 4, 2025 | Original Post