IBX News

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Washington Regional Medical Center have been granted initial accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to introduce neurology and emergency medicine residency programs in Northwest Arkansas. This marks the region's first non-primary care residency accreditation. Recruitment for these programs will commence in the upcoming fall, with the first neurology and emergency medicine residents set to start in July 2026. The neurology program will eventually host eight residents over four years, while the emergency medicine program will accommodate 18 residents in total over three years.

Ryan Cork, vice chancellor of the UAMS Northwest Region, highlighted the significance of these programs, stating, “Northwest Arkansas is experiencing rapid population growth, increasing the demand for specialized medical care.” Cork emphasized the necessity of expanding the specialist workforce to address the shortage of neurologists and emergency medicine physicians.

These new programs follow the state’s PEER Joint Budget Committee's unanimous approval of $4.5 million on February 26 for expanding graduate medical education at Washington Regional. Larry Shackleford, president and CEO at Washington Regional, remarked on the strength of the partnership with UAMS. He mentioned that neurology residents would work at Washington Regional's J.B. Hunt Transport Services Neuroscience Institute, while emergency medicine residents would gain experience in a busy emergency department and the only Level II Trauma Center in the region.

Washington Regional will primarily host the residency programs, with other necessary rotation sites including Arkansas Children's Northwest and Encompass Health. The neurology program is directed by Jay Hinkle, M.D., with Margaret Tremwel, M.D., Ph.D., as associate program director. Both are involved with the UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation Stroke Program. The emergency medicine program is led by Joel “Cam” Mosley, M.D., and Ryan Mantooth, M.D.

The UAMS/Washington Regional Graduate Medical Education Program was established in 2021 following a study by the Northwest Arkansas Council that identified a physician shortage in the area. Since its inception, the program has added 50 new residency positions, including 24 in internal medicine.