Department of Physician Assistant Studies


June 1, 2023

Brunch, Hooding Ceremonies Mark Crossroads for College of Health Professions Students

Ben Boulden

A student stands center stage May 26 in the CHARTS Theater as two members of the College of Health Professions faculty place her academic hood on her shoulders.

At an informal brunch in the late morning and an afternoon hooding ceremony, both on May 19, hundreds of College of Health Professions students celebrated the successful conclusion of their formal, professional education and the beginning of their careers.


May 31, 2023

UAMS Plays Key Role in New State Legislation for Physician Assistants

Ben Boulden

State Sen. Aaron Pilkington, left, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Edward Williams on May 5 just after the official signing of Act 303.

Because of a UAMS team effort, the Arkansas Legislature passed, and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on May 5 signed into law Arkansas Act 303, allowing physician assistants to be enrolled in Medicaid as “rendering providers.”


March 14, 2023

PA Students Raise Their Second Highest Dollar Total Ever to Fight Hunger

Ben Boulden

Samantha Lawson, left, Michelle Hill, Ryan Toliver and Spencer Hughes present a mock check celebrating the $11,786 that PA students raised last year for the Arkansas Food Bank.

Through its Heroes Against Hunger 5K Race in 2022, the Kelly-Rahn-Turnage Fellowship of Physician Assistant Students raised $11,786 for the Arkansas Food Bank, which is the second highest annual total in the race’s history. In a short ceremony March 6 at UAMS, the students presented an oversize, mock check to Michelle Hill, corporate relations manager…


March 1, 2023

Spotlight on the Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Editor Role

The faculty and staff of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies take a moment for a group photo outside on the west side of the Little Rock campus of UAMS.

By Edward Williams | Enrolling its first class of 26 students in 2015, the UAMS PA Program became the second PA program in Arkansas. The program now enrolls 40 students in each class into the 28-month program.  The program is supported by 11 core faculty and three administrative staff providing our program with a 4:1…


September 26, 2022

Congressional Staffer Visits Physician Assistant Studies Department

Ben Boulden

Amelia Allert, second from left, a legislative assistant in the Office of U.S. Rep. French Hill, visits with Physician Assistant Studies students at UAMS.

Just as new students were arriving at UAMS, a legislative assistant working for U.S. Rep. French Hill visited the College of Health Professions Department of Physician Assistant Studies with a goal of learning more about the program.


September 9, 2022

UAMS Physician Assistant Class of 2022 Overcomes Pandemic Challenges to Graduate

Ben Boulden

Joseph Frescura, left, waits to step onto the stage and watches as Edward Williams and Hillary Mayberry help Taryn Frazier put on her long, white coat as part of the Valediction Ceremony for the Physician Assistant Program's Class of 2022.

What the members of the UAMS Physician Assistant Class of 2022 went through to get to their Aug. 26 Valediction Ceremony marking the completion of their studies was and probably will remain singular in the program’s history.


August 11, 2022

College of Health Professions Promotes Four Faculty Members

News Staff

The UAMS College of Health Professions recently promoted four members of its faculty. Left to right, they are: Melissa Halverson, Nathan Johnson, Paul Nelson and Ashley McMillan.

The UAMS College of Health Professions recently announced the promotions of four faculty members: Melissa Halverson, Pharm.D., MPH; Nathan Johnson, Ph.D.; Paul Nelson, M.S.; and Ashley McMillan, D.D.S.


June 6, 2022

Biggest Audience in Three Years Attends Physician Assistant White Coat Ceremony

Ben Boulden

The Physician Assistants Class of 2024 stands to recite and take the Professional Oath on May 27 in the Smith Auditorium.

The White Coat Ceremony on May 27 for the Class of 2024 in the UAMS College of Health Professions Department of Physician Assistant Studies was likely the largest in-person event in the Smith Auditorium in three years. “This is the first time that we have been able to have family and friends together in the…


October 14, 2021

Culinary Medicine Program Opens New Kitchen

Ben Boulden

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr., far right, holds the ribbon as Gloria Richard-Davis, M.D., gets ready to cut it and officially open the the new Culinary Medicine Kitchen at UAMS.

What used to be a space where people could eat lunch is now a place where people will make lunches and other meals as part of the UAMS Culinary Medicine Program. On Oct. 5, the program reached a milestone in its brief history as it formally opened its new Culinary Medicine Kitchen.


September 15, 2021

UAMS Physician Assistant Class of 2021 Evokes Tears, Smiles

Ben Boulden

The Physician Assistant Program Class of 2021 stand Aug. 27 in Smith Auditorium for a final group photo after their Valediction ceremony.

As he brought the UAMS Physician Assistant Class of 2021 Valediction Ceremony to a close Aug. 27, Edward Williams wiped his eyes, and with a sad smile, he joked that his “eyes tend to sweat” when it’s warm. Williams, MPAS, PA-C, is chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies in the College of Health…



Previous page Next page