Banner Health, University of Arizona's 10-year partnership has generated $59B, report says

Ten years ago, the University of Arizona and Banner Health launched a partnership to help address health care needs in the state. A new report shows the partnership has also provided an economic benefit.

The Arizona Board of Regents, known as ABOR, hosted an event in downtown Phoenix Friday morning, celebrating the 10-year collaboration. Speakers included leaders from all three organizations and Mayor Kate Gallego. The event also featured and a video message from Gov. Katies Hobbs, declaring Oct. 24 Academic Medicine Day in the state.

Jim Rounds heads the consulting group that put together the new economic impact report on the Banner/UA partnership. He said it has supported tens of thousands of jobs and generated $59 billion in economic output.

“Spring training in Arizona goes back to 1946. We have 80 years of it. This is three times the cumulative impact of all spring training activities in the state for the last 80 years," Rounds said.

ABOR Chair Doug Goodyear said the organizations will continue working together to build the state’s health-care workforce and drive improvements in public health.

"We’re a fast-growing state and we are growing faster than our ability to produce doctors and many other professions," Goodyear said. "So for me, the most important part of this partnership is that it’s actually working."

Since its inception, more than 1,900 physicians and health care professionals have graduated from the UA Colleges of Medicine in Tucson and Phoenix. Thousands of UA nursing and pharmacy students receive clinical training at Banner locations each year.

Medical school enrollment has increased nearly 40% since 2015, and the number of residency and fellowship positions has increased from 990 to more than 1,200. It is estimated that roughly 1,100 physicians and health care professionals trained through the initiative are practicing in the state.