Anthem Blue Cross funds $2 million fellowship for UNLV rheumatology training

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada has committed $2 million to establish a permanent endowment at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The gift creates the Anthem Fellowship Endowment, a funding source designed to support the training of rheumatologists at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine. University officials announced the initiative on Wednesday, citing a growing gap between patient demand and available specialized care in the state.

The endowment will provide two years of funding for a single trainee who will work under expert rheumatologists at the medical school. A new trainee will be selected every two years. Officials stated that the program aims to encourage more physicians to remain in Nevada after completing their specialized training.

A study published in Arthritis Care & Research projects that the state will possess only about 44% of the necessary rheumatology workforce by 2037. This share ranks as the third-lowest in the nation. Rheumatologists diagnose and treat autoimmune and inflammatory conditions affecting bones, muscles, joints, and internal organs, including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

UNLV Health, the university’s network of community clinics, handles approximately 250,000 patient visits annually across Southern Nevada. The network employs roughly 150 physicians. Joann Strobbe, the CEO of UNLV Health, stated that the current capacity is not enough. She noted that appointments with UNLV Health’s rheumatologists can be booked six to eight weeks in advance, creating difficulties for patients seeking timely care.

Joy Thomas, president and CEO of government business at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada, said the insurer worked with the medical school for about two years to establish the endowment. Thomas described timely access to specialized care as essential for helping patients manage symptoms, prevent complications, and maintain quality of life. She noted that symptoms can be severe enough to prevent patients from working, attending school, or completing everyday tasks.

Thomas, whose daughter sees a rheumatologist, said she is familiar with how hard it is to get appointments in that specialty. Paul Joncich, a spokesperson for the medical school, said he had to wait months for his daughter to see a rheumatologist. He attributed the delay to Southern Nevada’s shortage of specialists.

UNLV President Chris Heavey said during a check presentation that medical school graduates often leave Southern Nevada when they cannot find residency positions locally. He stated that gifts such as Anthem’s can help retain that talent. Heavey described the region as fast-growing and noted that the medical school is constantly playing catch-up to the needs of the community.

An Association of American Medical Colleges analysis covering 2014 through 2023 found that roughly 60% of physicians practiced in the state where they completed their residency training. However, a report from Brookings Mountain West and the Lincy Institute indicated that from 2021 through 2025, only 42% of residency placements for Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine graduates were in-state. Interim Dean Alison Netski said part of the school's mission is to build a pipeline that helps Nevada high school students enter medical school and complete their training in the state.

Netski said that a shortage of residency positions makes it difficult to keep medical professionals in the state. She stated, “I wish I could say money is not always the biggest barrier, but sometimes it’s a huge barrier.” She added that having stable financial resources in perpetuity for rheumatology is a major benefit. Thomas said Anthem wanted the investment to continue benefiting the community over time, serving not just Medicaid members but the community as a whole.