Arizona Health Education Alliance

Creighton University is a nationally ranked and recognized institution that delivers a leading health sciences education. Its interprofessional approach reflects the future of clinical care and is an extension of its classroom teaching. The School of Medicine is committed to preparing students for the medical opportunities and challenges in patient care, teaching, research and service. The College of Nursing has a national reputation for excellence in providing nursing education, a commitment to service, and being at the forefront of the ever-changing field of nursing. The School of Pharmacy and Health Professions has a rich tradition and history of being a pioneer in educating occupational therapists, pharmacists and physical therapists.

Valleywise Health has a proud tradition of being both the community safety net health care system, with a mission and commitment to serving the underserved and Arizona’s only public teaching hospital. Valleywise Health consists of Valleywise Health Medical Center, the only Level I Trauma Center in Arizona verified by the American College of Surgeons to care for both adults and children, Arizona’s only nationally verified Burn Center serving the entire Southwestern U.S., Valleywise Health’s McDowell Healthcare Center, which is the largest provider of HIV primary care in Arizona, the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic, the Arizona Children’s Center, two behavioral health centers, and 13 neighborhood Family Health Centers.

DMG is a not-for-profit entity consisting of more than 650 credentialed providers representing all the major medical and surgical specialties and subspecialties. Professional clinical services encompass all physicians and mid-levels staffing a 450 bed acute hospital, a 200 bed psychiatric hospital, a large diagnostic center, 11 family health centers, a nationally and internationally recognized burn center and numerous outreach programs. DMG serves AHCCCS Complete Care patients and their families at the DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services, a first-of-its-kind Multi-Specialty Interdisciplinary Clinic (MISC) in Phoenix. More than 95 percent of DMG physicians are board certified in over 25 specialties. 

St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center is part of Dignity Health, which recently merged with Catholic Health Initiatives to form the largest Catholic health care system in the country. St. Joseph’s is a nationally recognized center for quality tertiary care, medical education and research. It includes the internationally renowned Barrow Neurological Institute®, the Norton Thoracic Institute, Center for Women's Health and a Level I Trauma Center verified by the American College of Surgeons. The hospital is also a respected center for orthopedics, internal medicine, primary care and many other medical services. Founded in 1895 by the Sisters of Mercy, St. Joseph’s was the first hospital in the Phoenix area.

DHMG, an affiliate partner, comprises more than 200 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse midwives. Its support staff of more than 500 covers a wide variety of specialties. With 30 practice sites and four hospitals interspersed throughout metro Phoenix, it provides more than 20 subspecialty services. DHMG physician faculty take their academic commitment seriously, staying up-to-date on the latest medical information and procedures in order to ensure that students and residents have the best experience possible. 

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Michael D. White, MD, MBA - Chair
Executive Vice President | Chief Clinical Officer, Valleywise Health

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Mardell Wilson, EdD, RDN
Provost, Creighton University

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Robert "Bo" Dunlay, MD
Dean, Creighton University School of Medicine

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Tim Bricker
President for the Dignity Health Southwest and Midwest Division

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Steve Purves
President and CEO, Valleywise Health

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Kote Chundu, MD 
President and CEO, District Medical Group (DMG)

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David Wisinger, MD
Chief Medical Officer, District Medical Group (DMG)

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Corey Karlin-Zysman, MD
Sr. Vice President, Physician Enterprise AZ/NV Commonspirit (DHMG)

What is the Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance?

• In September 2017, Creighton University, Dignity Health-St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Valleywise Health and District Medical Group entered into a strategic partnership with a primary focus to strengthen and expand Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs administered by each institution. The Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance serves as the centralized organization administering residencies and fellowships previously sponsored by the two hospital members.

Why was the Alliance established?

• Creighton University School of Medicine’s excellent reputation and presence in Phoenix since 2011 provided an opportunity for Alliance members to collaborate with an academic partner to attract top-caliber faculty and students to its residency and fellowship programs and provide advanced training opportunities to medical professionals currently practicing in state.

How will the Alliance help the people of Arizona? 

• The collaborative organization is focused on expanding and strengthening advanced medical training, accelerating research opportunities, and advocating for medical education resources. The partnership’s goal to elevate and expand health sciences education and programming to new generations of physicians, nurses and allied health professionals to improve the health outcomes for our community, state and nation. Arizona currently ranks in the bottom third of all U.S. states in the number of practicing physicians per 100,000 people. With its booming population, metro Phoenix and the state need more physicians and health professionals, and those professionals need more local, high-quality training opportunities.

How is the Alliance structured?

• Governance is led by the Alliance board of directors made up of representatives from the member organizations that make up the Alliance. The board is responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating the Alliance strategic plan for nurturing optimal clinical and academic learning environments. Operationally, the Alliance is led by Executive Director Erica Brown and her staff.

How is the Alliance funded?

• Each core member of the Alliance contributes to the operation. This funding covers staffing, facility leasing, and other general operating expenses.

How many residents and fellows train at Alliance member institutions?

• More than 330 residents and fellows within 17 different specialties/sub-specialties currently train at member institutions. More often than not, residents stay in the community where they complete their training.

What role does the Alliance have in Creighton University’s Health Sciences Phoenix Campus?

• Creighton University is solely responsible for its Health Science Campus in Phoenix but Alliance goals complement those schools and colleges. Alliance member institutions will benefit from the pipeline of future healthcare professionals trained by Creighton faculty and Creighton benefits from Alliance programs that provide residencies, fellowships, clinical rotation primacy and other training opportunities for Creighton health science learners.

Will this partnership impact current teaching and research relationships in health education?

• Although the member institutions have primary responsibility to Creighton learners, both Valleywise and St. Joseph’s are committed to continuing to support training opportunities for students from other schools and colleges. Similarly, collaborations in research are expected to grow.

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Erica Brown
Executive Director
Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance Staff

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Molly Erickson
Administrative Assistant
Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance Staff
mollyerickson@creighton.edu
602.812.3137

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Amy Ludwig
Student Operations Manager
Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance Staff