The Bridge Fellowship Program — offered through the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona Health Sciences — helps students learn how public care, like Medicaid, is set up, paid for and provided. Learning how these systems work behind the scenes enables them to better guide their patients who depend on this care.
This is significant, as Medicaid plays a big role in care across Arizona, covering more than one-third of the people in the state. And, thanks to an $80,000 gift from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice, 10 students are getting a closer look at how care works beyond the clinic.
Each student received $6,000 to support this training. They also took part in the 2025 Rural Health Conference in Flagstaff, where they met with care teams, policy leaders, and public health experts.
“This fellowship helps students see the full picture of care, not just how to treat patients, but how care reaches them,” says Heather Carter, Ed.D., CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice. “By learning how programs like Medicaid shape access, they’re better prepared to support the people who rely on it every day.”
This work is part of AZ Blue in Action, an effort by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona to improve health across the state. AZ Blue in Action helps create lasting change in areas with the greatest need.
Did You Know: Medicaid covers more than 2 million Arizonans; in some rural areas, Medicaid covers more than half of all kids.
