MEDICAL SCHOOL UPDATES
UAMS : Washington Regional and UAMS Team Up for New Residency Program in NWA
Efforts by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences ( UAMS ) and partners to generate much-needed physicians for Arkansas are getting a boost this year with the launch of the UAMS / Washington Regional Internal Medicine Residency Program in Fayetteville .
The program received initial approval from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education ( ACGME ) for 24 internal medicine slots and will welcome its first class of eight residents in July . It is a jointly administered residency program and is accredited as part of the new GME initiative between UAMS and Washington Regional Medical Center . With future residency training planned in emergency medicine , neurology , surgery and transitional year , these programs will bring approximately 92 new residency positions to Northwest Arkansas by 2030 .
“ As we work with collaborators across the state to expand residency training opportunities , it is exciting to see this new program with Washington Regional come to life ,” said G . Richard Smith , MD , interim UAMS executive vice chancellor and College of Medicine dean . “ Washington Regional has provided excellent training opportunities for UAMS family medicine residents for many decades , and our new , jointly administered programs in internal medicine and other specialties take our partnership to a new level .”
“ The success of our program is essential to meeting the health care needs of Arkansans and aligns with our regional and institutional missions to educate future physicians who will provide the highest quality primary and specialized care ,” said Sheena CarlLee , MD , assistant professor and residency program director . “ We are so excited to welcome our first residents this summer .”
Preparations for the new program add to the atmosphere of growth for the College of Medicine at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus , where undergraduate medical education also is being expanded . For the first time , students from all four years of medical school – 62 in all – are now based at the campus . This is the second year the campus has hosted UAMS ’ accelerated three-year MD track for highly qualified students who plan to practice primary care , in addition to the traditional four-year track .
“ It has been amazing to see the growth of our medical education program in Northwest Arkansas ,” said John Spollen , MD , a professor of psychiatry and longtime educational leader who began serving as regional associate dean for the college in January 2023 . “ I look forward to working with our students , faculty and community partners as we continue to expand and enhance medical education in the years ahead .” ■
Left Photo : UAMS / Washington Regional Residency core faculty members : Back row ( l-r ): Michael Bolding , DO , Director of Hospital Medicine ; Corey Costantino , MD , Hospital Medicine Physician ; David Ratcliff , MD , Chief Medical Officer ; Anne Montgomery , MD , General Internal Medicine Physician . Front Row ( l-r ): Buddy Newton , MD Medical Director of Infection Prevention , Control and Treatment ; Sheena CarlLee , MD , General Internal Medicine Physician and Program Director ; Anthony Williams , MD , Vice President and Chief Quality Officer .
Right Photo : John Spollen , MD , newly appointed regional associate dean for the UAMS College of Medicine in Northwest Arkansas .
ARCOM : Applicants Help Make Blankets for Project Linus
Serving the underserved is central to the mission of the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine ( ARCOM ). One of the ways ARCOM is making a difference is through participation in the Project Linus program . Project Linus is a national organization that provides homemade blankets to children who are seriously ill , experiencing trauma , or otherwise in need . On ARCOM interview days , the admissions team instructs applicants on how to make fleece cut and tie blankets . Before and after their interviews , the applicants work on making the blankets that are later donated to Project Linus . Not only is it a wonderful way to show applicants how important service is to ARCOM , but it is also a great way for them to bond with fellow applicants as they work together toward a common goal .
Tracy Long , Coordinator of the Western Arkansas chapter for Project Linus stated ,
“ Since 1995 , the mission of Project Linus has been to provide new , handmade blankets to local children in need . The alignment with ARCOM ’ s mission , to serve the underserved , was never more evident than when they began engaging potential student doctors in the process of making blankets for the Western Arkansas chapter of Project Linus . As a result , more than 75 local children have received a “ hug ” from these Blanketeers ( volunteer blanket makers ). We , and they , are so very appreciative of this partnership and willingness of ARCOM and potential student doctors to share their talents and resources with our community in this way .”
Since mid-August , ARCOM Admissions has donated several homemade blankets to children in the River Valley . They project that by the end of the interview season , they will make a total donation of 100 blankets .
WINTER 2023 | VOLUME 119 | NUMBER 3 89