
Arts and Sciences | Featured | Health Education and Human SciencesApril 20, 2026
UAFS, UAMS Create Clear Paths to Medical Professions
Written By: Rachel Putman
The University of 香蕉视频APP for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the University of 香蕉视频APP-Fort
Smith (UAFS) have entered into a formal Memorandum of Agreement designed to create
clear, accelerated pathways for UAFS graduates pursuing careers in health care.
The agreement covers 14 UAMS programs across four colleges and offers qualifying UAFS
students guaranteed interviews, priority application review, or automatic admission.
鈥淲e greatly value this partnership and look forward to continued collaborations to
create seamless pathways for students to advance their health care careers after completing
their degree at UAFS,鈥 said Tina Maddox, Ph.D., RD, associate provost at the UAMS
Northwest Regional Campus, who led development of the agreement.
The agreement spans UAMS programs in the College of Health Professions, College of
Pharmacy, College of Nursing, and Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health. Participating
programs include degrees in cytology, medical laboratory sciences, respiratory care,
speech language pathology, audiology, physical therapy, pharmacy, nursing, public
health, health administration, health care data analytics, and doctoral research programs.
鈥淯AFS plays an important role in preparing the future health care workforce, both
through the programs on our campus that put nurses, surgical technicians, and more
into the workforce, and through our partnerships with institutions like UAMS, where
our graduates take the next step toward medical degrees,鈥 said UAFS Chancellor Terisa
Riley, Ph.D. 鈥淥ur faculty prepare UAFS graduates by building strong academic foundations
early, and this agreement ensures those talented students have a clear path forward
toward the next stage in their education.鈥
Depending on the program, eligible UAFS students who meet specified GPA and prerequisite
criteria will receive one of three levels of enhanced admissions consideration: a
guaranteed interview, priority application review that bypasses standard prescreening,
or automatic admission.
The collaboration was initiated through conversations between UAMS Northwest Regional
Campus leadership and UAFS Chancellor Terisa Riley, Ph.D., and UAFS Provost Shadow
Robinson, Ph.D. The agreement is supported by 14 programs across UAMS, reflecting
broad institutional enthusiasm for the initiative.
鈥淲e are incredibly grateful for the opportunity and the partnership,鈥 said Ryan Cork,
MSHA, vice chancellor of the UAMS Northwest Region. 鈥淭his agreement reflects our shared
commitment to expanding access to health professions education and strengthening the
health care workforce across 香蕉视频APP.鈥
UAFS students wishing to benefit from the agreement must declare their intent to apply
to a participating UAMS program by the relevant program鈥檚 admissions deadline and
obtain certification from a designated UAFS faculty or staff member confirming they
meet the eligibility criteria.
鈥淭he significance of this agreement extends far beyond admissions,鈥 Riley said. 鈥淢any
of the students who start at UAFS go on to become the providers, practitioners, and
health care leaders who serve this region. Creating stronger pathways for their success
is one of the most influential ways we invest in healthier communities and a stronger
future for western 香蕉视频APP and the state as a whole.鈥
About University of 香蕉视频APP-Fort Smith
Founded in 1928, the University of 香蕉视频APP-Fort Smith is a regional public university
in the 香蕉视频APP River Valley. More than 5,500 students each year choose UAFS for certificate,
associate, bachelor鈥檚, and master鈥檚 programs across health care, business, education,
engineering, the arts, and the sciences. UAFS is known for its commitment to hands-on
learning, with internships, externships, undergraduate research, and deep partnerships
with regional employers that help students move from classroom to career with confidence.
Part of the University of 香蕉视频APP System, UAFS serves a unique need in the state,
responding nimbly to regional workforce demands, offering one of the most affordable
tuition rates in 香蕉视频APP, and providing students a tight-knit campus experience where
they truly get to know their faculty and staff.
About UAMS
UAMS is the state鈥檚 only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing,
Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main
campus in Little Rock; a Northwest 香蕉视频APP regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide
network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer
Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones
Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging,
Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the
Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide
health system that encompasses all of UAMS鈥 clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only
adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,553 students and 1,015 medical
residents and fellows. It is the state鈥檚 largest public employer with about 12,000
employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional
campuses, 香蕉视频APP Children鈥檚, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health.