Anthem funds new training spot for rheumatologists at UNLV

Southern Nevada residents will gain access to one additional rheumatology trainee every two years thanks to a new permanent funding source at UNLV. The program is designed to help the university produce more specialists for a region that currently faces a severe shortage of doctors who treat joint and autoimmune diseases.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada donated $2 million to establish the Anthem Fellowship Endowment. University officials announced the gift on Wednesday. The endowment provides two years of funding for a single trainee. A new trainee will be selected on a recurring two-year cycle. The funding is perpetual, meaning the program will continue indefinitely.

The need for additional specialists is urgent. A study published in Arthritis Care & Research projects that the state will have only about 44% of the rheumatology workforce required to meet demand by 2037. This figure ranks Nevada third lowest in the nation for specialist availability. Rheumatologists diagnose and treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which affect bones, muscles, joints, and internal organs.

Joann Strobbe, CEO of UNLV Health, noted that the network handles approximately 250,000 patient visits annually and employs roughly 150 physicians. She stated that current staffing levels are not sufficient. Appointments with UNLV Health rheumatologists are currently booked six to eight weeks in advance, which delays necessary care for patients.

Paul Joncich, a spokesperson for the medical school, shared that he waited months for his daughter to see a specialist. Joy Thomas, president and CEO of government business at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada, said her own daughter sees a rheumatologist. Thomas noted that she is familiar with the difficulty of securing appointments in that specialty field.

UNLV President Chris Heavey said the university is working to keep medical talent in the state. He noted that graduates often leave when they cannot find local residency positions. Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges shows that roughly 60% of physicians practice in the state where they completed residency training. However, a report from Brookings Mountain West and the Lincy Institute found that only 42% of residency placements for Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine graduates were in-state from 2021 through 2025.

Interim Dean Alison Netski described the endowment as a stable financial resource that will help build a local pipeline for medical students. Thomas said Anthem hopes the investment will provide long-term benefits to the community, including for Anthem Medicaid members and the general public.