UAMS Announces Partnership with Hall STEAM Magnet High School
| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Hall STEAM Magnet High School have announced a partnership that will provide Hall students with hands-on learning opportunities and exposure to careers in health care.
The collaboration is part of the Academies of Central Arkansas, an education initiative involving Pulaski County’s four public school districts and the regional business community. Under its partnership with UAMS, Hall High’s health sciences academy will be renamed as the UAMS Academy of Health Sciences.
During a press conference at Hall High’s George E. Cirks Arena, leaders from UAMS, the Little Rock School District and the Little Rock Regional Chamber announced the partnership and praised its potential to transform the lives of students.
Avi Bhavaraju, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Surgery-Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, works with a student during a trauma-care demonstration at Hall High.
Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health, said the partnership is not only about creating the health care workforce of the future but it’s also about the talented teens who will benefit from the program.
“We’re looking forward to seeing what you become as you go through this,” he told a group of Hall High students who attended the press conference as representatives of the health sciences academy.
Students in the UAMS Academy of Health Sciences will gain exposure to a variety of health careers. Beginning in their freshman year, students will participate in career expos and other events that highlight the options available to them after high school. Additionally, UAMS will offer guidance to help the students develop clearly defined pathways for pursuing health careers.
Sophomores will be able to tour UAMS’ facilities and take part in hands-on activities that enhance curriculum content and show them different aspects of the health care field. Juniors and seniors will have even more opportunities, such as the ability to apply for internships or earn industry recognized credentials.
Jay Chesshir, president and CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber, hailed these efforts as significant in cultivating future generations of talented professionals in central Arkansas.
“When you look at the opportunity to create a transformative partnership between two icons in the community — Hall High School and UAMS — it’s truly exciting,” he said.
Hall High, which opened its doors in 1957, was reconfigured in 2020 to create a magnet school that offers separate academies for health sciences and engineering, according to the school’s website. Students take typical high school classes but also have one course per year that focuses on their chosen pathway. Students in their senior year will take part in a capstone project or an internship with one of the academy’s partners.
The health sciences academy had an enrollment of 120 students in the 2022-23 school year. Their courses examine the roles of biomedical professionals and cover concepts in medicine, physiology, genetics, microbiology and public health. Students also take part in training sessions to receive CPR/first aid and Stop the Bleed certifications.
UAMS already has a presence on the Hall High campus through the university’s Pathways Academy, a program run by the Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DDEI). Pathways Academy is an educational and community engagement initiative that focuses on preparing low-income and underrepresented students from kindergarten through 12th grade for opportunities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health sciences (STEM-H) disciplines.
Last year, Hall High hosted Pathways Academy’s RAMP-UP summer camp for high school students. Hall High and UAMS continued to work together during the school year, with Pathways Academy providing guest speakers who shared information about health careers.
A Hall High student holds a baby manikin during a demonstration focused on newborn care.
Brian Gittens, Ed.D., MPA, vice chancellor of DDEI, praised the Pathways Academy team and all the school administrators, teachers and parents who have made the partnership possible.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the collaborative effort we’re announcing today,” he said. “For all the students here, know that the work is just starting. Looking at the future, we have big things planned for you.”
The seven students who attended the event donned white coats emblazoned with the Pathways Academy logo. After the press conference, they provided attendees with a series of demonstrations that simulated medical procedures or techniques, including ultrasound testing and bleeding control.
Shana Spriggs-Loring, assistant superintendent of the Little Rock School District, said the partnership with UAMS will create “a world of opportunity” for students, noting recent news reports that highlighted a significant shortage of health care professionals in many parts of the country.
“Together, we will inspire, empower and prepare the next generation of health care leaders, fostering a brighter future for our community,” she said.