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Matthew Nix, M.D. (right) talks with a student at the recent UAMS Residency Fair.
UAMS Residency Fair Connects Arkansas Medical Students with Training Programs
| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Family and Preventive Medicine recently hosted its second annual Residency Fair, an event aimed at connecting medical students with primary care residency programs across Arkansas.
The event provided students with a unique opportunity to explore residency training options in a casual setting. Unlike traditional residency interviews that occur during a student’s senior year, this event allowed attendees to meet and network with program representatives early in their medical education.
“This is an amazing event for students and residency programs. It provides a unique and important opportunity for students to make connections with residency programs in Arkansas,” said David Kelley, M.D., director of the Division of Medical Student Education in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at UAMS. “We expect to grow the event in years to come.”
Approximately 45 students from UAMS, the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine and the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine attended the fair. They had the opportunity to engage with around 65 faculty, residents and staff from more than 20 residency programs around the state, including programs specializing in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and emergency medicine.
Participating programs included:
- Emergency Medicine: Unity Health-White County Medical Center
- Family Medicine: Baptist Health-UAMS, Conway Regional Health System, Mercy-Fort Smith, UAMS central campus in Little Rock, UAMS North Central Regional Campus in Batesville, UAMS Northeast Regional Campus in Jonesboro, UAMS Regional Centers Rural Track Program in Berryville/Eureka Springs, UAMS Regional Centers Rural Track Program in Crossett, UAMS South Central Regional Campus in Pine Bluff, UAMS Southwest Regional Campus in Texarkana, UAMS West Regional Campus in Fort Smith, Unity Health-White County Medical Center
- Internal Medicine: Conway Regional Health System, Mercy-Fort Smith, NEA Baptist, UAMS-Mercy, UAMS-Washington Regional, Unity Health-White County Medical Center
- Pediatrics: UAMS
- Physician Recruitment: Arkansas Department of Health, Baptist Health, UAMS
Jessica Bursk, program education manager, emphasized the importance of the fair in encouraging students to stay in Arkansas for their training and eventual practice.
“The goal of this event is to familiarize our students with the wonderful training opportunities here in Arkansas,” Bursk said. “We hope by connecting students with residency programs early on, they will take advantage of rotation options, learn what they are passionate about and find a residency
program that aligns with their goals. Ultimately, our goal is for these students to remain in Arkansas after their training and to serve communities across the state.”
The event was funded through a medical student education grant provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
