University of Nevada School of Medicine

More About the Health Sciences Center

Nursing

Nevada currently ranks near the bottom nationally in nurses to population ratio.
The nursing schools of the University of Nevada Health Sciences Center are addressing Nevadas critical need for nurses.
Our nursing schools enroll over 90 percent of nurses in training across the state.
We have recently doubled our nursing school enrollment.
We plan, with the states help, to once again double the number of nursing students over the next six years.
By 2013 our schools will be enrolling 3,140 nurses.
The nursing schools at the University of Nevada, Reno and University of Nevada Las Vegas are expanding graduate nursing programs. Nurse practitioners will provide specialty and community based nursing care and nurse educators to teach more nurses.
The net result: More nurses to care for Nevadas residents and better access to care for you.

Physicians

Nevada ranks among the lowest in the nation in physicians to population ratio.
The University of Nevada School of Medicine is among the smallest medical schools in the nation; the current size of our graduate medical education programs (doctors in residency) and fellowships is also very small.
The good news: If physicians complete their resident training in Nevada, there is a high probability they will stay to practice in Nevada.
The plans for the University of Nevada Health Sciences Center include major growth in the size of our residency programs. This will be a source of future physicians for Nevada.
To increase our residency programs, we need to increase the number of faculty at the School of Medicine.
Those faculty who conduct research bring the newest treatment protocols to Nevada along with the economic development created by an experienced research enterprise.
The School of Medicine and the faculty will be working hand-in-hand with hospitals and physicians across the state.
The School of Medicine is also increasing the number of medical students it will enroll to allow more of Nevadas best and brightest young people to go to medical school in our state.
The net result: More doctors to care for Nevadas residents and better access to care of you.

Research and Economic Development

Research and education go hand-in-hand; students want to learn from people producing new discoveries; the best teachers are often the people producing new knowledge.
Research in the bio-medical sciences is an opportunity for Nevada: Our growing population and economic health are attractive to outside funding groups.
We have a core of faculty who generate external research funding, but that core is too small. We can do more with more research faculty.
Research produces better care for Nevada, new discoveries translate from bench to bedside.
Research brings money and talent to the state, growing and diversifying our economy. Since 2001, the healthcare industry added 1.7 million jobs to the economy (Business Week, 12/06).
Research builds our reputation as a great place to live and work.
The University of Nevada will be a focal point for more research, working in collaboration with other health sciences centers, providers, government and the business community.
The net result: Better care for new knowledge and a healthier State from research-driven economic development

Allied Health Professionals

Nevada has a shortage of nearly all health professionals, in physical therapists, pharmacists, psychologists, medical technologists, dentists and in other fields.
The University of Nevada Health Sciences Center is addressing these needs: A newly established School of Dental Medicine, a plan for a new school of pharmacy and growth in other programs.
We need to do more. We will increase enrollments in these programs even more over the next four to eight years.
We will focus our efforts on the distinct health needs of Nevada for better rural healthcare, mental health, care of the elderly, and care of the medically underserved.
The net result: More health professionals for Nevadas residents and better access to care for you.

Community Health

Nevadas health status is among the lowest in the U.S.: We rank 40+ in overall mortality.
The incidence of many diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimers disease, addiction, heart and lung disease is very high and climbing rapidly.
Our access to care is very bad because of shortages in physicians, nurses and other health professionals.
The schools and programs at the University of Nevada Health Sciences Center are addressing these needs and are preparing to do more for Nevada.
Our schools of public health provide education, research and service in bioterrorism, health screening, rural health, infant and pre-natal care and others.
Our schools of public health are also doing research on health policy and the cost of health care: How can our healthcare system provide more value, better care and less cost?
Our nursing schools, School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine and other programs are focused on Nevadas health needs. From rural health clinics to pre-natal education to dental health to community education, these are the frontlines of integrated health care delivery.
We work closely with state agencies and providers who share the mission of improving Nevadas health.
The net result: Healthier communities and healthier people.