Nevada’s HEAL program strengthens health care workforce by investing in people

Access to timely, high-quality health care depends on having enough trained professionals where patients live. In Nevada, that challenge is especially acute in rural communities and underserved urban neighborhoods, where shortages of physicians, nurses, behavioral health providers and other clinicians can delay care and worsen health outcomes, including for cancer prevention, screening and treatment.

That is why workforce development programs like the Nevada Health Equity & Loan Assistance (HEAL) Program play such a critical role in improving health equity across the state.

This month, the Nevada State Treasurer’s Office opened the 2026 application window for the Nevada HEAL Program, an initiative designed to attract and retain health care professionals by helping reduce the burden of student loan debt. Through the program, eligible providers can receive up to $120,000 in student loan repayment in exchange for committing to practice for at least five years in a rural or underserved Nevada community.

In 2025 alone, the program delivered approximately $1 million in loan repayment assistance to 67 health care professionals statewide, including 23 providers serving rural communities like Winnemucca, Pahrump, Dayton and Fallon. These investments help ensure that Nevadans have better access to primary care, behavioral health services, social work support and specialty care that is essential for early cancer detection and ongoing treatment.

Nevada’s workforce shortage by the numbers

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Nevada faces widespread health professional shortages. The state has numerous federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) for primary care, dental health and mental health. HRSA data show that tens of thousands of Nevadans live in areas without adequate access to basic health services, with rural counties and low-income urban neighborhoods disproportionately affected.

Primary care and behavioral health shortages are particularly concerning for cancer outcomes. Limited access to providers can mean fewer preventive visits, delayed screenings and barriers to follow-up care after an abnormal test or diagnosis. These gaps contribute to later-stage cancer diagnoses and poorer survival rates, especially among populations already facing social and economic barriers to care.

Explore the Health Workforce in Nevada 2025 report from UNR's Nevada Health Workforce Research Center.

Why retention matters as much as recruitment

Recruiting health care professionals to Nevada is only part of the solution. Retaining them is just as important. High student loan debt is a well-documented factor driving burnout and turnover, especially among early-career clinicians. Programs like Nevada HEAL help stabilize the workforce by making long-term practice in underserved communities more financially sustainable.

The program is open to a wide range of licensed health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, behavioral health providers and pharmacists, all of whom play a vital role across the cancer care continuum. By requiring a multi-year service commitment, Nevada HEAL supports continuity of care and strengthens long-term relationships between providers and the communities they serve.

An opportunity to build a healthier Nevada

Applications for the 2026 Nevada HEAL Program are open through February 20 at 11:59 p.m., and the State Treasurer’s Office is offering virtual webinars to help applicants navigate the process.

For Nevada Cancer Coalition and partners across the state, efforts like the HEAL Program underscore a shared priority: building a strong, stable health care workforce that can meet Nevadans where they are. Investing in health care professionals today is an investment in earlier cancer detection, more timely treatment and better outcomes for patients in every corner of Nevada.

To learn more about eligibility and how to apply, visit NevadaTreasurer.gov/HEAL.

This article created with the assistance of AI and edited by NCC staff. This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.