U of A and Gila River Health Care (an Entity of the Gila River Indian Community) Launch Nation's First MD-Granting Medical School Branch Within a Tribal Nation

University of Arizona News

Aug 18, 2026

Announces a partnership between the University of Arizona and Gila River Health Care, a tribally operated healthcare system, to establish the first medical school branch on sovereign tribal lands. The goal of the partnership is to train future physicians in tribal communities while expanding access to care for tribal residents. It's an accelerated 3-year program and includes a full scholarship. Discusses rural and tribal physician workforce shortages.

Access · Health workforce education and training · Health workforce supply and demand · Networking and collaboration · Physicians · Tribal communities · Arizona