UAMS to Host Northwest Arkansas Schizophrenia Conference to Examine Complex Issues Surrounding Mental Illness
| FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is hosting a conference, the first of its kind in Northwest Arkansas, dedicated to raising awareness about schizophrenia and the issues that accompany the mental illness.
The Northwest Arkansas Schizophrenia Conference will be held Jan. 30, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fayetteville Town Center, 15 W. Mountain St. The event is open to all interested health care and mental health professionals as well as patients and family members interested in learning more about this complex disease that affects nearly 3 million American adults.
Among the speakers will be Brian Kirkpatrick, M.D., of UAMS’ Psychiatric Research Institute, who will give a presentation on the fundamentals of schizophrenia; Deanna Kelly, Pharm.D., BCPP, the acting director of the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Psychiatric Research Center who will discuss recent developments in medications used to treat the disorder; and William McFarlane, M.D., director of the PIER Training Institute of Portland, Maine, who will give a presentation on schizophrenia and the family.
The conference also will include a roundtable discussion of Northwest Arkansas residents with family members who were diagnosed with the disorder.
“The Northwest Arkansas Schizophrenia Conference is a significant step forward for our region,” said Ryan Cork, MSHA, vice chancellor for the UAMS Northwest Arkansas Region. “By bringing together leading experts, health care professionals and families, this event has the potential to transform how we address mental health challenges locally. It reinforces our commitment to building a stronger, more informed community and ensuring Northwest Arkansas remains a leader in advancing mental health care and support.”
There is no cost to attend the conference; however, registration is required. Please visit UAMS.Health/Schizophrenia to register.
Refreshments will be available; local restaurants and food trucks will be available for attendees. Limited parking will be available as well at the Town Center Parking Deck.
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 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 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.###