Kansas City University Welcomes First Class For Anesthesiologist Program

Posted February 10, 2026

Kansas City University has welcomed its inaugural class to the Master of Health Science in Anesthesiologist Assistant program at the Joplin campus.

The class consists of 24 students who will participate in a 28-month program focused on anesthesia principles and practice, pharmacology, patient assessment, procedural skills, patient monitors and machines and quality of care. As part of the program, students will also work alongside physician anesthesiologists in clinical experiences.

This master’s program was developed in response to the regional and national demand for anesthesia care providers. Kansas City University said the ongoing shortages have limited the ability to provide timely surgical and procedural care across the region. Additionally, the institute cited other medical partners, such as Freeman Health System and CoxHealth, who identified anesthesia support as an urgent need.

“When KCU established a presence in Joplin, the goal was to respond to the health care needs of the community,” KCU president and CEO Marc Hahn said in the release. “This program is the result of local health care partners identifying another need—a lack of anesthesia care providers–and working with us to help address it.”

Last year, KCU received a $20 million gift from Dr. Paul Dybedal and Mary Louise Dybedal to expand both its Kansas City and Joplin campuses. The donation was the largest gift from an individual in the university’s history. KCU’s Joplin campus was established in 2017 and now houses the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Dental Medicine — which opened in 2023 — the College of Health Professions and the Center for Population Health and Equity.