UAMS, WRMC set to launch new residency programs
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Washington Regional Medical Center are set to launch two new medical residency programs this fall in both neurology and emergency medicine.
According to a release from UAMS, 'The neurology program and the emergency medicine program are the first new residency programs accredited since the state's PEER Joint Budget Committee approved $4.5 million for expansion of graduate medical education at Washington Regional.'
It also states that the funds 'were unanimously approved Feb. 26 [and] will allow the UAMS/Washington Regional Graduate Medical Education Program to expand by an additional 26 medical residency and fellowship slots.'
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences faces potential funding cuts
Ryan Cork, the Vice Chancellor at UAMS Northwest, says the goal is to keep talented future doctors local.
'Our goal is to train Arkansans to stay in Arkansas and practice in Arkansas and help make a better state, a healthier state of Arkansas,' Cork said.
Cork says previously, there weren't many options for students looking to work in emergency medicine or neurology.
'For those individuals who wish to become a neurologist or wish to become an emergency medicine physician, they would have to leave at least Northwest Arkansas, if not the state in some cases to match with these residency programs,' Cork said.
The programs will begin recruiting their first residents in the fall.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Townhall of concerned Arkansans voice fears over Medicaid, SNAP cuts in Trump's proposed bill
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -In a packed town hall at the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children's Library and Learning Center, central Arkansans gathered to voice their concerns about the effects of proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The discussion centered on President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate and its potential to impact those across the country with disabilities, the elderly and low-income families. Faith leaders protest 'big, beautiful bill' One of the most impassioned voices at the town hall was that of William Gerard, a SNAP beneficiary with cerebral palsy who also depends on Medicaid to survive. Unable to work due to his condition, Gerard shared his testimony about how these programs are 'literally life-saving' for him. 'If I didn't have Medicaid, I don't know how I would survive,' said Gerard, who is on a regimen of 10 to 12 medications, some of which cost thousands of dollars. 'Some of my seizure medications, for example, can be in the thousands. With Medicaid paying for it, I might have to pay $2, and that really helps me.' Gerard's story is a poignant reminder of how Medicaid and SNAP provide vital support for millions of Americans. Under the budget reconciliation bill that passed the House of Representatives, $600 billion in cuts to Medicaid could result in nearly 11 million Americans losing coverage over the next decade according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis released Wednesday. For Gerard and approximately 190,000 other Arkansans, these cuts would have catastrophic consequences. Beyond the cuts to Medicaid, the proposed bill also includes steep reductions to SNAP benefits, totaling an estimated $230 billion over the next ten years. Gerard, who receives just $60 in food stamps each month, expressed the challenges this would create. 'I only get $60 in food stamps. So, what's $60 going to buy me?' he asked. 'We need to get Arkansans more food stamps that deserve it, instead of taking it away from us and making us decide what can I eat?' This concern was echoed by others at the meeting, who worried that the cuts to both Medicaid and SNAP would place an even greater burden on already struggling families, according to the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. The bill proposes several requirements, including the potential for states to take on more financial responsibility for these programs. The town hall participants discussed the wider implications of these cuts, particularly the snowball effect they would have on the lives of Arkansans. The potential loss of Medicaid coverage alone could leave thousands of individuals without access to necessary healthcare, while the SNAP cuts could push more people into food insecurity, according to the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. According to the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, more than 97,000 people in Arkansas Congressional District 2 could be impacted by the proposed $109 million cut to SNAP. These cuts could devastate families, particularly those with children, since nearly 45% of SNAP enrollees in Arkansas are parents who rely on the program to feed their families, according to . Another significant concern voiced at the town hall was the proposed work requirements that would accompany these cuts. Gerard, who receives both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), expressed his fears for those who, like him, are unable to work due to their disabilities. 'What about the elderly, the disabled, the people who can't work? How are they supposed to make a living?' Gerard asked. 'I went to a school for handicapped children, and I've seen kids who could barely feed themselves, let alone work.' Big, beautiful bill heads to the Senate For many at the town hall, these proposed cuts aren't just about numbers in Washington—they represent the erosion of a safety net for vulnerable citizens who have no other means of support. The bill, if passed, could force these individuals into even more precarious situations, with few options for survival. 'I'm not fighting for just me,' Gerard said. 'I'm fighting for all Arkansans who are struggling to make ends meet, for all of us who depend on Medicaid and food stamps to survive.' The town hall concluded with a clear message: for concerned Arkansans to contact their congressional representatives and 'make their voices heard.' 'Stop and think about what you're doing to Arkansans—those on disability, the elderly, the most vulnerable,' Gerard said. 'If these cuts go through, it's not just about money, it's about survival.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Oral health continues to be a challenge in Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Brushing, flossing and annual dental checkups are very important, but officials say oral care in Arkansas continues to be a problem. Officials with the ADH Oral Health Program said Arkansas has many rural areas, and access to oral health care for people who live in rural areas can be challenging due to longer driving distances to care and other factors such as insurance coverage. Arkansas also has some counties that have been federally designated as dental provider shortage areas, which means there are not enough dentists to care for the population residing in the county. FDA Signals major shift on fluoride treatments for children Dental Director for Delta Dental of Arkansas, a dental benefits company, Niki Carter says after and during COVID oral health care became bad nationwide. However, last year Arkansas was ranked low for poor oral care. 'Arkansas is 50th in the nation, so we have our work cut for us,' Carter said. Carter explained that one way there's a gap in care has to do with distribution. '60% of dentists practice in only eight of the state's 75 counties and these eight counties represent 40% of the state's population that are all in urban areas,' Carter said. 'Technically, 60% of the population lives in rural areas.' Carter said that's not the only problem, the other issue is a shortage of dentists. 'Technically, there is a shortage of dentists per 100,000 population in our state,' Carter said. Study ranks Arkansas at the absolute bottom for dental health Carter says most dentists want to practice in metropolitan areas, which is why she's glad Lyon College will open the state's first dental school this month. 'One aspect of poor oral health is it affects numerous systemic illnesses,' Carter said. She also says students could go through a loan repayment program helping serve those needed areas. 'New dental students are graduating with $300,000 and $400,000 in debt. Through the repayment program, they will go to these rural areas and practice for a certain amount of time and pay back that loan,' Carter said. Carter says they also partner with multiple companies that provide care to patients, hoping they can help close the gap. One of the partners is Teledentistry, where members have 24/7 access to dental visits. Lyon College holds groundbreaking for first dental school in Arkansas Officials with the Arkansas Department of Health Office of Oral Health also say they're focused on promoting lifelong, optimum oral health for all Arkansans through education and prevention. This includes programming that educates health care providers about the interplay of oral health on systemic health, raising awareness about oral disease and the importance of regular dental care and programming that promotes and supports daily oral health hygiene habits for all ages, particularly children. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Sam's Club says it plans to remove synthetic dyes from private brand by end of 2025
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Sam's Club announced on Thursday plans to eliminate more than 40 ingredients from its private label brand, Member's Mark, by the end of the year. The wholesale chain said in a news release that under the initiative, 'Made Without,' it will alter its food and beverage products to offer items without certain ingredients in order to cater to specific dietary preferences. In April, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary announced plans to phase out several types of artificial, petroleum-based dyes used as food coloring in various snacks, drinks and desserts that line grocery shelves, mainly citing kids' health as the reason for the move. 'We take pride in the high-quality ingredients that go into our products, but what truly differentiates us are the ingredients we consciously leave out,' Julie Barber, chief merchant at Sam's Club, said. 'Our 'Made Without' commitment underscores our aspiration to be members' go-to destination for quality at a disruptive value. For us, it's about listening to our members and providing the items that resonate with their lifestyles.' Here is the list of ingredients Sam's Club plans to eliminate from its 'Made Without' products: Acesulfame-K (Acesulfame Potassium) (Ace-K) Acetylated Ester of Mono & Diglycerides (ACETEM) Artificial Flavors Aspartame Azodicarbonamide (ADA) Benzyl Alcohol Butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) Butylparaben Certified Synthetic Colors/FD&C Colors Cocamide DEA Cyclamates Cyclopentasiloxane Cyclotetrasiloxane Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate (DSS) DMDM Hydantoin Ethyl Vanillin Formaldehyde Hexa, Hepta, Octa Esters of Sucrose High Fructose Corn Syrup Lactylated Esters of Mono & Diglycerides (OLEON) Methylparaben Neotame Phthalates Potassium Bisulfate Potassium Bisulfite Potassium Nitrate/Nitrite Propyl Gallate Propylparaben Saccharin (All) Simplesse Sodium Ferrocyanide Sodium Propionate Sucroglycerides Sucrose Polyester Talc Tertiary Butylhydroquinone (Except for our 35-pound food service frying oils) Toluene Sam's Club said it has already released cookies and other snacks without artificial colors. The retailer is also offering fresh sushi as part of its 'Made Without' program. In addition to Sam's Club, Tyson recently announced it planned to eliminate synthetic dyes from its products, according to CEO Donnie King. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
