How can Arizona keep health care students in state after they finish schooling?

PHOENIX — Arizona has many medical schools and nursing programs, but keeping those students in the state after graduation can be difficult.

According to the American Medical Association, more than 40% of pre-med students who complete residency training leave the state they were trained in when they join the workforce.

Arizona state Sen. Carine Werner has been trying to lower that number in Arizona, sponsoring two pieces of legislation that directly address the problem of keeping health care students in the state after graduation.

SB 1727, which was signed into law by Gov. Katie Hobbs earlier this month, requires Arizona pre-med programs to give medical school interviews to any Arizona resident who meets the requirements.

Werner said it doesn’t allow any shortcuts; it just gives local residents an extra boost in the process.

“They have to be able to earn that spot through the interview, but at least they got a seat at the table to begin with. And … our hope is that they will ultimately get more students who are from here and if they are from here, they’re more likely to stay here after medical school,” she said.

The second piece of legislation is SB 1623, which is currently included in the drafted state budget. It would expand Arizona’s residency programs to allow more seats for students to stay here after pre-med programs instead of going out of state.

The bill would authorize over $28 million for the residency programs.

Building connections for medical school and nursing students

The solution to keeping medical students here doesn’t only come from the Legislature; it also comes from experience in the field.

Lisa Smith, the dean of Grand Canyon University’s College of Nursing, said a good way to incentivize students to stay here is by allowing them to try the programs out themselves. The school practices that by partnering with Abrazo Health facilities around the Valley for internships and clinicals.

“The facility gets really first dibs on those students. They can offer them an internship … but also can offer them employment options, as well,” she said.

Bishop Audineo, who is from California, is in his third semester at GCU’s nursing program. He said he is choosing to stay in Arizona and work in an ICU here. He has worked in two different local hospitals during his schooling.

“Just being here, taking my prerequisites here at GCU and being in Arizona for a couple years, it made me just fall in love with the area,” he said. “And the hospitals that I’ve been to so far have just been great.”

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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