America’s first MD-granting medical school branch on tribal land will open in Arizona in 2027; 10 students a year will enter a 3-year programme on full tuition scholarships

The University of Arizona and Gila River Health Care will launch the nation’s first MD-granting medical school branch on the lands of a sovereign Tribal Nation in Sacaton in 2027. Ten students will enter the three-year programme annually, receiving full tuition scholarships. The initiative aims to address physician shortages and improve healthcare access.