Heartland Whole Health Graduate Medical Education Technical Assistance Center

What We Do  

The Heartland Whole Health Graduate Medical Education (GME) Technical Assistance Center supports hospitals, health systems, academic partners, and communities across the state in developing and strengthening GME programs. The GME Technical Assistance Center provides expert guidance, education, and connections to expand training opportunities, grow the physician workforce, and improve healthcare access statewide. 

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Why Partner with Us? 

• Statewide perspective across rural, urban, and underserved settings 

• Technical expertise in accreditation, finance, and workforce planning 

• Collaborative, community-driven approach  

• Committed to nonpartisan analysis, study, and research for broad public education 

Connect with Our GME Technical Assistance Center Team  

Actionable Insights to Expand GME in Arkansas 

Heartland Whole Health Institute published Growing the Physician Workforce in Arkansas: A Statewide Graduate Medical Education Strategy, a report examining Arkansas’ physician training landscape and outlining evidence‑informed options to strengthen residency training capacity over time. The report offers a clear, data‑driven framework for policymakers, health systems, and education leaders seeking pathways to strengthen Arkansas’s physician workforce and expand access to care statewide. 

Read the Report  

What the Report Examines  

• Arkansas’ current GME landscape  

• Specialty and geographic gaps that influence access to care  

• Barriers and considerations affecting residency program feasibility  

• Regional training pathways and implementation considerations  

• Lessons from peer states and comparable training models  

A Growing Gap Between Medical School Graduates and Residency Training 

Arkansas’ physician pipeline faces a clear math problem: currently the state’s medical schools graduate approximately 430 physicians annually, but Arkansas offers only 375 Post Graduate Year-1 (PGY‑1) residency positions — the first year of residency training required for licensure. That mismatch pushes Arkansas-trained physicians to leave the state for residency training, weakening long-term retention and access to care. The pressure will increase beginning in 2029, when Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) begins graduating an additional cohort of 48 physicians each year. 

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