A light emitting device includes a p-side heterostructure having a short period superlattice (SPSL) formed of alternating layers of AlxhighGa1-xhighN doped with a p-type dopant and AlxlowGa1-xlowN doped with the p-type dopant, where xlow≦xhigh≦0.9. Each layer of the SPSL has a thickness of less than or equal to about six bi-layers of AlGaN.