The ҹɫÊÓƵ School of Medicine’s (UNR Med) physician assistant (PA) Studies Program is deepening its commitment to rural and underserved communities through a collaboration with MolinaCares, the charitable arm of Molina Healthcare. With aligned missions of strengthening local health systems and serving underserved populations, MolinaCares and UNR Med’s PA Program saw an opportunity to expand their mission to PA students.
MolinaCares’ grant provides funding and support for students to complete clinical rotations across rural Nevada. The support has since grown to include professional development for rural preceptors, faculty site visits and recruitment support to build long-term sustainability for rural training.
“Molina’s grant provided the resources to make those placements feasible and sustainable,” said Director of Physician Assistant Studies Brian S. Lauf, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA. “Which immediately expanded the reach of our rural training.”
By requiring every PA student to complete rural or underserved rotations, students experience hands-on training while expanding health care to those in need. In the first two quarters of 2025 alone, students supported by the grant cared for 1,300 patients across Ely, Carson City, Fallon, Minden and Eureka.
A second-year PA student, Jennifer Geddes, reflects on her experience with the clerkship.
“Molina’s support has made it possible for students like me to pursue meaningful rural rotations without worrying about financial barriers,” Geddes said.
“I’ve felt supported not only by UNR Med’s faculty and staff but also by the community preceptors and partners like Molina who believe in our training and purpose.”
Beyond funding, the grant strengthens communities by supporting preceptor training and linking providers to larger health networks, helping rural sites remain a strong training environment. The MolinaCares grant has allowed the expansion of pediatrics, women’s health, family medicine and surgery, which have historically been harder to secure in rural areas.
This encourages the growth of the health care work force in Nevada. “For Nevada, it supports a workforce pipeline of providers who are more likely to remain in-state and practice in underserved areas,” Lauf said. “This investment ensures that preceptors remain connected, skilled and committed to training future students.”
For rural Nevada, the grant means improved access to care and a stronger pipeline of providers for tomorrow. For students, the experience has been both educational and deeply personal. “My rural clerkship showed me how essential adaptability, teamwork and community trust are to patient care,” said Geddes. “My rural rotations have shown me how much trust and continuity of care matter, and how a provider’s presence can make a lasting difference even with limited resources.”
What began as a shared commitment to community health has evolved into a transformative collaboration shaping the future of health care in Nevada. As the program continues to grow, its focus remains clear: to expand rural training opportunities, strengthen preceptor networks, and cultivate a generation of PAs who are ready to serve where they are needed most.
