AHEC Graduate Medical Education Development Program

On July 1, 2023, the University of Arizona, Arizona Area Health Education Center (AzAHEC) was given the responsibility of supporting the development of Graduate (Physician) Medical Education (GME) programs. The $5 million dollar legislation over 3 years, is a multipoint effort to encourage and engage health service providers in HPSAs and underserved areas that are in critical need of physicians, to sustain and improve the quality and quantity of care in Arizona. The medical specialty focus of the legislation is Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Peds/IM, Psychiatry, Ob/Gyn, Geriatrics and General Surgery.

Funding supports:

On-site and statewide technical assistance programming
The development and support of collaborative approaches to assure a network of supportive services to organizations seeking to develop and sustain ACGME accredited Sponsoring Institutions and Academic programs in priority specialties
Grant funding of up to $300,000 per FQHC, RHC and Tribal entities for GME program development.

Expanding GME into rural areas is a challenge both in terms of academic accreditation and sustainable financing. The AzAHEC GME program has a broad base of support from hospitals and community-based primary care providers and their statewide representative agencies and organizations. The state has created a vibrant Medicaid GME payment system that is constantly looking to improve health facility compensation necessary to train physicians. GME interest in the FQHC, RHC, CAH, tribal health authorities, as well as general and specialty hospital communities is high as the state has seen new GME programs grow from five new sites under development to 14 since the beginning of the program in the summer of 2023.

This webpage is intended to provide information and support to Community and University organizations seeking to improve access to necessary health services by developing or expanding Graduate Medical Education programs.

For more information contact: Charlie Alfero, calfero@arizona.edu and Dr. Ed Paul, edpaul@arizona.edu