Nevada, particularly Clark County, has been grappling with a significant shortage of physicians for years now.
With one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the United States, the state is confronted with the urgent challenge of delivering adequate healthcare to its expanding population.
As of 2021, data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) highlighted that Nevada has about 218 physicians for every 100,000 residents.
This figure falls notably short of the national average of 272 per 100,000.
The state ranks 45th for active physicians, 48th for primary care physicians, and an alarming 49th for general surgeons per 100,000 people, which illustrates the persistent shortage of medical professionals.
Clark County, home to Las Vegas and the majority of Nevada’s inhabitants, is particularly affected by this physician deficit.
The shortage is especially pronounced in certain specialties, such as primary care, psychiatry, and pediatrics, resulting in long wait times for residents or necessitating that they seek care out of state.
A lack of medical training opportunities within the state has historically contributed to the physician shortage.
Graduates from medical schools often leave Nevada for their residency training and frequently do not return, perpetuating the cycle of physician shortages.
Recognizing the pressing need for a solution, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV has been actively working to expand its graduate medical education (GME) programs.
By providing new avenues for aspiring physicians to complete their training in Nevada, the medical school is playing an essential role in enhancing accessibility to healthcare and improving the overall quality of medical care in the region.
In his 2025 State of the State address, Governor Joe Lombardo emphasized the vital importance of GME in transforming Nevada’s healthcare landscape.
After completing medical school, physicians are required to undergo several years of hands-on training in hospitals and clinics under the guidance of experienced professionals, known as residency programs.
These residency programs are not only crucial for the development of competent physicians but also serve as effective strategies for retaining medical talent within the state.
Nationally, more than 60% of doctors decide to practice in the locations where they finish their residency training.
In Nevada, while around 55% of physicians who complete their residency training choose to remain in the state, this number is still lower than the national average.
However, Nevada ranks 8th in the country for retaining physicians who undergo both their undergraduate medical education (UME) and graduate medical education (GME) within the state, with 77% of such physicians opting to stay.
In response to this situation, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine has made substantial commitments to grow its residency and fellowship programs, tailored to meet Nevada’s healthcare demands.
At present, UNLV’s GME programs are training over 325 residents and fellows across various specialties including family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and emergency medicine.
These initiatives are significantly bolstering the influx of doctors into the state’s workforce, which is crucial for stabilizing Nevada’s healthcare system.
The influence of UNLV’s medical training programs is already evident across Clark County, where residents and fellows, working alongside faculty physicians, are providing care through the school’s multi-specialty academic medical practice, UNLV Health, and in affiliated local hospitals.
With guidance from experienced faculty physicians, residents experience a high-volume and high-acuity patient population, equipping them to tackle the complexities of contemporary medicine.
Despite the notable advancements made by UNLV’s medical school, the journey is far from complete.
Nevada continues to lag behind national averages when it comes to the number of available residency slots, a problem attributed in part to insufficient funding for GME programs.
Expanding these vital programs necessitates both state and federal investment, as well as collaboration with local hospitals and healthcare providers.
There is also a recognized need for the development of new residency and fellowship programs, particularly in high-demand specialties such as neurology, hematology, and medical oncology.
Such expansions will ensure Nevada continues to build a comprehensive healthcare workforce that is capable of catering to its growing and aging population.
The significance of GME cannot be overstated; residency programs form the foundation of an effective healthcare system.
The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV is at the forefront of initiatives to address Nevada’s physician shortages.
By training, retaining, and increasing the number of practicing doctors in the state, UNLV’s GME programs are making a substantial difference in the lives of Nevadans.
As Clark County and Nevada continue to expand, the demand for competent physicians is poised to intensify further.
Through unwavering investment in GME programs and a strong commitment to keeping medical professionals within Nevada, the state can strive toward a future where quality healthcare is accessible to all residents.
With the ongoing efforts of UNLV and its partners, this future is becoming ever more attainable.
image source from：https://www.unlv.edu/news/article/views-healing-silver-state
