Anthem Funds Rheumatology Fellowship at UNLV

A $2 million endowment will train rheumatologists at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine to address a regional physician shortage.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Arthritis

Anthem Funds Rheumatology Fellowship at UNLV

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Do you think Nevada has enough doctors to meet residents' health care needs?

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield committed $2 million to the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, establishing a permanent endowment for a two-year medical fellowship in rheumatology. The commitment was announced Wednesday, November 4, 2026, after two years of planning.

Why it matters

Southern Nevada has a physician shortage, and rheumatology is one of several specialties where patients often wait months to see a specialist. The fellowship is intended to keep trained physicians practicing in the community.

Nevada has one rheumatologist for every 125,000 residents, ranking 49th of 50 states in rheumatologist availability. The endowment funds a single two-year fellowship position, and it is not stated whether additional positions will follow.

The players

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

Anthem is a major health insurer and the donor funding the endowment, which is part of its broader community health commitments.

Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV

The medical school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is the institution receiving the endowment and hosting the fellowship.

The details

The permanent endowment funds a fellowship in which trainees work under existing rheumatologists at the medical school. The program is designed to keep graduates practicing in the community after training.

Two years before the announcement: Endowment planning began.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Anthem announced the $2 million endowment at a UNLV event.
2037: Projected benchmark year for Nevada rheumatologist workforce adequacy.

Big Picture

A study in Arthritis Care & Research projects Nevada will have less than half the rheumatologist workforce needed by 2037, placing the state among the nation's lowest at 44.4 percent adequacy. The Anthem endowment is a targeted local response to that projected gap.

Residents with joint or autoimmune conditions in Southern Nevada may face long waits for rheumatology appointments, and the fellowship is intended to expand local specialist capacity over time. The endowment does not change current appointment availability.

The takeaway

Specialist shortages are often addressed through targeted training investments rather than immediate hiring, so patients should expect gradual rather than sudden improvement. Checking with local rheumatology practices about waitlists remains the most practical step for those needing care now.