The Vision Behind the School: Why Northwest Arkansas?

Quality of Life

Northwest Arkansas is a thriving community located in the Ozarks and known as the mountain biking capital of the world, with world-class art, a flourishing culinary scene, and an epicenter for innovation with three Fortune 500 companies, the University of Arkansas, and a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.

What makes Northwest Arkansas special? The rankings are a great place to start:

• Fayetteville, Springdale, and Rogers ranked #2 on the Best Midsize Cities for Jobs list (Forbes)
  Northwest Arkansas ranked #10 on the Best Places to Live list (U.S. News & World Report)
  Bentonville ranked #12 on the Coolest Towns in America list (Matador Network)
  Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale, and Bella Vista ranked #25 on the Top Best Places for Riding list (PeopleForBikes)

Despite Northwest Arkansas’ fast growth and strong focus on quality of life, there is still work to do to improve health and well-being statewide. According to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, Arkansas ranks #48 out of the 50 states in overall health.

Alice L. Walton School of Medicine aims to change rankings like this by training students in a whole-person, preventative approach to care, and then retaining those doctors in the state.

The Right Place and the Right Time

Pending accreditation, the School will be located in Bentonville, Arkansas, poised to transform health care by training physicians of the future to consider not just physical, but mental, social, and emotional well-being.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which will share a campus with the School, is a case study for how a project can transform a region. Since opening, the Museum has attracted more than 12 million people from around the world and put Northwest Arkansas on the map as an arts destination. Founder Alice Walton aims to do the same for health care in the region.

The School will enhance traditional medical education with the arts, humanities, and whole health principles. The School promises an immersive experience with art in and around the building, which is situated on 14-acres of green space with trails, outdoor classrooms, a healing garden, and the largest green roof in Arkansas.

Time spent in nature has been linked to a greater sense of community connection, higher levels of cognitive function, and lower levels of stress, among other benefits. Medical education is traditionally known as a rigorous and trying course of study, and the School aims to leverage the natural landscape to provide spaces for respite and connection for students and the community at large.

“Northwest Arkansas is unique in its entrepreneurial spirit, focus on quality of life, natural resources, and thriving art scene.” Alice Walton said at the School’s groundbreaking ceremony. “This campus will bring together nature, art, innovation, and well-being to create an inspiring environment for learning for students and the whole community.”

Inspired by Alice L. Walton School of Medicine’s mission? Visit the Join Our Team page to browse open positions.