AR SR58

Senate celebrates the 50th anniversary of UAMS Regional Campuses, which were established in 1973 with $1,000,000 in initial appropriations to address physician shortages in rural Arkansas communities.

Original six regional centers located in El Dorado, Pine Bluff, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, and Texarkana were all operational by 1976, with additional centers later established in Helena-West Helena, Batesville, and Magnolia.

Over five decades, UAMS Regional Campuses trained nearly 1,500 family medicine physicians, with 63% remaining in Arkansas and 37% practicing in rural counties; currently approximately 700 graduates practice in 69 of Arkansas's 75 counties.

Each year the campuses provide clinical training to 157 family medicine residents and over 250 health professions students through interprofessional, team-based learning approaches.

Senate honors the health and economic impact of UAMS Regional Campuses at local, regional, and statewide levels and their ongoing commitment to ensuring access to quality primary care and trained providers throughout Arkansas.