NAU’s Department of Physician Assistant Studies receives grant to expand access to care for Arizonans
NAU’s Department of Physician Assistant Studies has been awarded a $175,000, three-year Systems Change grant from Vitalyst Health Foundation. The grant will expand access to care for Arizonans with complex health needs, particularly in rural and medically underserved communities through Project ECHO, a model designed to strengthen primary care capacity across the state.
Within the College of Health and Human Services, the initiative will connect rural clinicians with academic and specialty care experts through virtual case-based learning and mentorship. The model equips providers to manage complex, high-acuity conditions within their own communities, reducing the need for costly referrals and improving continuity of care.
“Arizona faces a significant shortage of primary care providers, especially in rural areas, where patients with complex health needs often encounter barriers to timely, coordinated care,” NAU faculty member and project lead Adrienne Madhavpeddi said. “By leveraging the Project ECHO model, this initiative empowers local clinicians with the knowledge and support needed to deliver high-quality care close to home.”
The project represents a systems-level approach to improving health care delivery by addressing barriers related to policy, clinical practice, professional relationships and workforce development. It also promotes team-based, equitable care models while strengthening the pipeline of providers serving rural communities.
A partnership between El Rio Health, Circle the City, Regional Center for Border Health and the Rural Health Professions Program will guide the project’s implementation. Together, these organizations will help ensure the model reflects the needs of diverse communities across Arizona.
Over the course of the grant, the project will expand access to coordinated care, reduce fragmentation in health systems and advance health equity for some of Arizona’s most vulnerable populations.
To learn more about Project ECHO at NAU visit in.nau.edu/physician-assistant/project-echo.