UAMS and NWACC Partner to Support Health, Safety of Eagles Student-Athletes
| FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) today announced a new agreement under which UAMS Health will provide pre-participation physical examinations and injury-assessment screenings for NWACC Eagles student-athletes as part of UAMS’ community health mission.
Under a signed memorandum of understanding (MOU), UAMS Health’s Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine team will provide annual assessments and injury-prevention support for NWACC student-athletes across the college’s growing lineup of sports programs.
The agreement covers NWACC’s current and developing athletics offerings — men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s track and field, men’s and women’s soccer, esports, and cycling — with baseball and softball among the sports the college is planning for future growth.
“As we continue building NWACC Athletics, we want to do it the right way, and taking great care of our student-athletes has to be at the center of that,” said Brooke Brewer, NWACC executive director of athletics. “Partnering with UAMS Health ensures our athletes are healthy and ready to compete, while also giving us a trusted partner right here in Northwest Arkansas as our programs continue to grow.
“What makes this especially exciting is that it goes beyond athletics. NWACC and UAMS are both deeply invested in Northwest Arkansas, and this partnership creates new connections for our students, our institutions, and our community. That’s exactly the kind of partnership we want to build around NWACC Athletics.”
UAMS Health brings deep experience in collegiate and scholastic sports medicine to the partnership. UAMS is the official orthopaedics and sports medicine provider for University of Arkansas Razorback Athletics, caring for more than 450 student-athletes across 19 sports programs and provides sports medicine services to several high schools throughout Northwest Arkansas.
“We are very proud to partner with NWACC in support of its student-athletes,” said Wes Cox, M.D., section chief for UAMS Health Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Northwest Arkansas. “Taking care of college athletes begins before injury ever occurs, doing whatever we can to minimize risk of injury, and being there for the athlete and team when injuries happen. It also involves care of the never injured and previously injured athletes. This is what we do, and we are very happy partner with NWACC in support of the athletic mission.”
Beyond athlete care, both institutions see the collaboration as a broader opportunity for working together. As NWACC’s athletics program expands, leaders from both organizations point to potential connections in student education, healthcare career exposure, workforce development, and community wellness, which builds on the college’s momentum in growing both its academic and athletic offerings.
“This partnership is about more than sports medicine,” said Ryan Cork, MHSA, vice chancellor of UAMS Northwest. “It’s a chance to connect NWACC students with career pathways in healthcare, strengthen our region’s wellness resources, and show what’s possible when two Northwest Arkansas institutions work together.”
About Northwest Arkansas Community College Athletics
NWACC is an accredited, public two-year institution that serves and strengthens its surrounding communities by helping students maximize their potential and exceed expectations. With state-of-the-art facilities, NWACC provides excellent academic instruction, workforce training and personalized attention from highly respected faculty, staff and administrators. With two national championships, eight region titles and seven transfers to four-year schools, the NWACC Eagles athletics program has represented NWACC with immediate success since its beginning in 2021. A National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) member program, the Eagles compete in NJCAA Region 2 and have grown to seven sports in five years, including the addition of men’s and women’s soccer for fall 2026. Learn more at nwacceagles.com.
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 seven 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, 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 3,553 students and 1,030 medical residents and fellows, and two dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with about 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.###