AWSOM Highlights From 2023
January 1, 2024
In 2023, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine broke ground on its one-of-a-kind medical education facility, established connections with health systems and community partners, and expanded its team of staff and faculty members. With exciting developments in 2024 on the horizon, it’s a great time to reflect on the School’s major milestones from 2023.
A Groundbreaking Campus
In March, the School held a groundbreaking ceremony that brought community, staff, faculty, and partners together to celebrate the commencement of construction on the 14 acres of land located near Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. As of December 31, 2023, 40% of total construction has been completed, with 7,000 cubic yards of concrete and 600 tons of steel used.
The School selected Fayetteville-based company Ozark Green Roofs as the partner for its green roof, which will be the largest of its kind in the region and provide a unique outdoor experience for students and the community.
A Growing Team
This year, 26 faculty and staff members joined the School, including Founding Dean and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sharmila Makhija. Get to know the School’s accomplished leadership and faculty members on the website.
Team members represented the School at dozens of events, including the HLTH 2023 conference in Las Vegas, where Dr. Makhija and founder Alice Walton joined Ezekiel Emanuel of the University of Pennsylvania and moderator John Doerr for a panel on the changing landscape of health education, technology, and value-based care., technology, and value-based care.
At the Northwest Arkansas Tech Summit, representatives from the School of Medicine and Paige Francis, Chief Information Officer of Art and Wellness Enterprises, shared plans to utilize simulation technology and other tools to advance health access, supplement the curriculum, and prepare medical students to succeed in an evolving health landscape.
President and CEO of Heartland Whole Health Institute Walter Harris took center stage with Dr. Makhija and Alice Walton at the third annual Heartland Summit, the flagship event of think-and-do-tank Heartland Forward. The three were joined by health leaders Lisa Jacobs Blau and Dr. Clinton Phillips to discuss reimagining health care delivery and education. When sharing how the School will prepare the next generation of physicians, Walton emphasized the importance of technology.
“The doctors of tomorrow — today — need to be very comfortable with technology and AI… I want our doctors of tomorrow to be part ‘techie’, with a great big heart.”
Brand Recognition
In October, the School won gold for best visual identity in the education sector in the annual Transform Awards, a celebration of the most creative and innovative brands. The School’s branding was developed in partnership with global brand and design agency Coley Porter Bell.
Community and Connection
The School organized 12 outreach events during 2023, collaborating with partners such as the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County, Washington Regional’s Senior Support in Action, and Scott Family Amazeum to give back to the community.
The School also signed agreements with nine health system partners who will support its efforts to enhance medical education in Arkansas and beyond:
- Arisa Health
- Arkansas Children’s Hospital
- Community Clinic NWA
- Highlands Oncology Group
- Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas
- Springwoods Behavioral Health
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)
One Step Closer to Accreditation
One of the most significant moments of the year was when the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) granted the School Candidate Status, signaling LCME’s formal recognition of the School as a candidate for accreditation and prompting the next step in the accreditation process. If successful, this multi-year process will allow the School to recruit students in late 2024 for matriculation in 2025.
With the next steps in the accreditation process and a focus on adding to the dynamic team of professionals, 2024 promises to be another momentous year. View open faculty, staff, and dean-level positions to find opportunities to join the School for everything on the horizon.