Heartland Whole Health GME Technical Assistance Center
Growing, sustaining, and retaining physicians in Arkansas
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.
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
What We Provide
- Foundational GME Education
- Best Practice Resources
- Feasibility & Readiness Assessments for New or Expanding Programs
- Financial Scenario Planning for Sustainability
- Administration Support & Accreditation Pathway Guidance
- Informational Meetings & Network Connections
- State and Regional Workforce Data Insights
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.
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. Despite 1,281 total residency and fellowship positions statewide, only 375 are designated for first-year residents, leaving Arkansas with fewer training opportunities than medical school graduates each year. 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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