View Larger Image Leslie Stone, M.D., MPH, stands on the field before the Arkansas Travelers' May 30 game at Dickey-Stephens Park.
Leslie Stone, M.D., MPH, stands on the field before the Arkansas Travelers' May 30 game at Dickey-Stephens Park. Image by Kenneth Childres

UAMS Students Attend Travelers Game, Learn of Opportunities in Family Medicine

By Chris Carmody

| Students from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine gathered with faculty members and residents from the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and UAMS Regional Campuses to enjoy an Arkansas Travelers baseball game and discuss the opportunities the family medicine program offers across the state.

The May 30 gathering at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock served as a networking event for students who are interested in pursuing careers in family medicine and as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Arkansas’ Area Health Education Centers, now called UAMS Regional Campuses. The Department of Family and Preventive Medicine has a residency program on the Little Rock campus, and Regional Campuses operates programs in Batesville, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Pine Bluff and Texarkana.

Attendees sit in the stands during the Travelers game.

Attendees representing UAMS take in the Travelers game at Dickey-Stephens Park.Image by Khristina Huff

Katherine Wright, a rising second-year medical student, said she’s leaning toward a career in family medicine. She said she welcomed the chance to meet with students and residents who are on the same path.

Wright cited her experience growing up in Helena-West Helena as a key factor in her career considerations. She noted that many rural communities lack access to hospitals and instead rely on family physicians for their care.

“Family medicine allows you to make an impact in your community and be a healing force,” she said.

Arkansas faces one of the most severe physician shortages in the nation, and the problem is particularly significant in family medicine. As of 2020, Arkansas ranked No. 37 among states in the number of active primary care physicians per 100,000 residents, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

To address this shortage, UAMS has focused on recruiting students from underserved parts of the state and increasing the number of clinical education opportunities in those areas. Studies have shown that medical students who receive clinical training and complete residency programs in underserved communities are more likely to stay and practice in those settings, said Amber Marshall, M.Ed., administrative services director for Regional Campuses.

Brad Walsh, M.D., the Regional Campuses’ program director for rural training in Crossett, attended the Travelers game and spent some time getting to know the students. Walsh, who specializes in family medicine, said the event allowed students to learn about the variety of training programs available across the state.

“It’s great to bring people together and showcase the residencies we have to offer,” he said. “We want students to consider family medicine as a career and know that it gives them a chance to contribute to the well-being of patients in underserved areas.”

Jessica Snelgrove, M.D., has already made the decision to seek a career in family medicine. Snelgrove, who graduated from the College of Medicine in May, plans to continue her training as a resident in Batesville.

Staff members from the UAMS Regional Programs and Department of Family and Preventive Medicine pose for a photo in front of the field.

Staff members from the UAMS Regional Programs and Department of Family and Preventive Medicine pose for a photo in front of the field.Image by Janet Ligon

Snelgrove said many of her friends at UAMS are on the family medicine track and that it’s been fun to take that journey together. She said she encourages other students to consider careers in family medicine, but she also wants them to understand the commitment that the job requires.

“Family medicine can’t be a backup choice,” she said. “It’s a big decision to be someone’s family doctor because you’re one of the people they trust the most.”

The ballpark event was an informal affair, with attendees mingling at picnic tables as they ate hamburgers and hot dogs and watched the Travelers’ 8-4 victory over the Midland Rockhounds. Leslie Stone, M.D., MPH, director of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine’s Division of Medical Student Education, took to the field before the game to throw a ceremonial first pitch.

Stone said the event offered a great opportunity for students to connect with faculty and staff members from the Regional Campuses. He said the residency sites are embedded in their communities and are deeply invested in improving the health of Arkansans.

“Each of these programs provides top-notch training that will prepare students to care not only for their patients but also for the entire community,” he said.

As for the ceremonial pitch, Stone said there was room for improvement, but he enjoyed his moment on the mound.

“It was a little outside and in the dirt, but I think I caught the eyes of a couple of scouts out there,” he said.

This event was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $19,575,532 with 10 percent financed with nongovernmental sources.