This was originally posted on September 29, 2023.

Flagstaff, AZ– Today, at the yearly Arizona Board of Regents meeting, Governor Katie Hobbs announced the state will invest $11 million into the Arizona Board of Regents’ AZ Healthy Tomorrow Initiative. The Initiative was announced earlier this year, and is an effort by all three state universities to prioritize programs that will attract and retain qualified healthcare workers, from physicians and nurses to other allied health professions. Signaling a shared agreement that strengthening Arizona’s healthcare workforce is a top priority, the Arizona Board of Regents also announced they will invest an additional $15 million into the program, using funds from previously negotiated ARPA dollars.

“As Arizona continues to grow and attract businesses and families, it’s critical that we have qualified healthcare professionals to keep our state safe and healthy,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “I am extremely encouraged by the efforts of our state universities, and am confident that these new programs will help close the gap so many Arizonans are feeling when it comes to accessing quality healthcare services. We are stronger when every single Arizonan can get the care they need, and I am committed to getting that done.”

As a result of the AZ Healthy Tomorrow Initiative:

• Arizona State University announced the creation of a new medical school with a focus on engineering;
• The University of Arizona is working to double the size of their medical schools in Phoenix and Tucson;
• Just today, NAU announced the creation of a new medical school to serve rural and tribal communities.

Notably, Governor Hobbs’ attendance at the Arizona Board of Regents today was the first by a Governor since former Governor Ducey’s first year in office. Governor Hobbs, through her close partnership with the Arizona Board of Regents, is demonstrating her commitment to leveraging Arizona’s top tier state universities to help make Arizona the best place to live, work, and raise a family.