UAMS Accepting Applications for Pathways Academy for K-12 Students

By Kalee Sexton

Pathways Academy is an innovative educational and community engagement program focused on preparing low-income K-12 students for educational and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, math and health sciences (STEM-H) disciplines.

Pathways Academy is an innovative, comprehensive educational and community engagement program for K-12 students.

Pathways Academy is an innovative, comprehensive educational and community engagement program for K-12 students.

The Pathways Academy programs are free of charge with funding support from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services. The comprehensive programs target students enrolled in Arkansas public schools in five pilot site areas including Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Springdale, Pine Bluff and Little Rock with plans to expand statewide over the next four years.

The programs consist of four STEM-H academies: Junior STEM Academy (grades K-5); Senior STEM Academy (grades 6-8); Research Academic Mentoring Pathway for Underrepresented Populations (RAMP-UP) (grades 9-12); and Student Athlete STEM Academy (SASA) (grades 9-12).

The Junior and Senior STEM Academies are designed to immerse young scholars in a world of science that focuses on health while incorporating technology, engineering and mathematics. In addition to STEM-H, the program integrates concepts relating to mental health and wellness such as cyber-bullying and emotional intelligence. The pilot programs will be available in Hot Springs, Springdale, Pine Bluff and Little Rock.

RAMP-UP is a yearlong program designed to act as a springboard for disadvantaged or underserved students who would not ordinarily have access to opportunities for growth and development in the medical professions or other STEM careers. Formerly known as the Academy of Pre-Health Scholars, RAMP-UP facilitates an academic pipeline for students who have strong interests in health care professions. This program was created to ensure a smooth transition from secondary education to collegiate academics. The pilot program will be available in Jonesboro, Pine Bluff and Little Rock.

The SASA program is designed to facilitate collaborative efforts of medical professions and athletic scholars. This program will allow for scholars who have strong interests in health care professions and athletics to be able to do both. The program is a springboard for athletic scholars who would not ordinarily have opportunities for growth and development to pursue careers in health care or other STEM fields. The pilot program will be available in Little Rock.

Applications for all Pathways Academy programs will be accepted through February, with selections taking place in March. The programs will have a soft launch in May. Summer intensive camps will take place in June.

To apply, visit https://ddei.uams.edu/pathways-academy/

For more information, please contact the Pathways Academy team at PathwaysAcademyTeam@uams.edu

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,275 students, 890 medical residents and fellows, and five dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 12,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.

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