Who We Are
We are a diverse team dedicated to working with communities to create a better state of health for all. We seek to identify and understand health needs through research and programs and work to create an environment where every person has access to their best health.
View our Annual Report here.
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What We Do
Community-Engaged Research: We work with individuals, organizations, schools and communities to collaboratively identify, understand, and address health inequities.
Community Health Innovation & Action: We turn research into action by creating innovative and community-based programs to achieve equitable health for all people.
Community Health Equity: We use what we learn to effect policy change, environmental changes and better health and wellness opportunities, creating a better state of health for all.
Together, for a Better State of Health
A highly successful and productive research office, Community Health & Research leads a variety of community-engaged research and programs focused on Health Equity & Access; Family Wellness; Health, Hunger & Nutrition; and Diabetes & Cardiometabolic Diseases.
Health Equity & Access
We are working with CHWs and communities to ensure every Arkansan can access and understand healthcare.
Health Equity & Access
Family Wellness
We are improving health for women, children and families by increasing access to quality maternal care and support systems.
Family Wellness
Health, Hunger & Nutrition
We work with schools and communities to ensure every Arkansan has equitable access to healthy, affordable food.
Health, Hunger & Nutrition
Diabetes & Cardiometabolic Diseases
We partner with communities to learn about health disparities that exist, and to implement programs that reduce barriers to health.
Diabetes & Cardiometabolic DiseasesResearch That Makes a Difference
We are leading the way to improve health outcomes for all people, engaging in innovative collaborations with regional, statewide and national organizations dedicated to eliminating health disparities and improving health outcomes for all.
Our Approach to Research
Our faculty and staff are creating a better state of health through research and innovation. Learn more here.
Learn More
A Message From Dr. Pearl McElfish
Hear from our division director, Pearl McElfish, Ph.D., about the mission of UAMS Community Health and Research.
A Message from Dr. McElfish
Publications
Our researchers have produced groundbreaking research that has led to policy change and better health outcomes for communities across the world. Learn more here.
Publications
Center for Pacific Islander Health
The Center for Pacific Islander Health is a multi-disciplinary center focusing on research, community programs, training, and policy.
Center for Pacific Islander Health
Translational Research Institute
The UAMS Translational Research Institute provides services and resources to ensure the swift translation of research into health care advances.
UAMS Translational Research InstituteRecent News
A Vision for 2025: Keeping Your Eyes Healthy
By Sheldon Riklon, M.D. It’s that time again when many of us focus on creating healthier habits, like being more active or eating healthier. One thing we often forget is our eye health. Taking care of your eyes is just as important as any other part of your overall wellness. Several types of eye…
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UAMS, Partners Offer Comprehensive Doula Training
Accepting Scholarship Applications Now LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Community Health Innovation will train 80 doulas over the next year through a comprehensive program administered by the institute and other partners, including Ujima Maternity Network and Birthing Beyond. The program is available to individuals throughout Arkansas through…
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UAMS Plans More Services for Carroll County
UAMS Plans More Services for Carroll County The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Community Health Innovation joined the Carroll County Hometown Health Coalition’s Dec. 4 meeting to discuss services the institute is looking to provide across the county in 2025. The institute is deploying mobile health units — large vehicles equipped…
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The Heart of Rural Health Care: The Unique Impact of One Community Health Worker in Montgomery County
This story originally appeared in the Winter 2024 edition of the Arkansas Family Physician, the official publication of the Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians. Michele Duncan didn’t grow up in Arkansas, but from the moment she set foot in Mount Ida — a small, close-knit community in the heart of Montgomery County — she knew…
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Meet Our Team
Our team is comprised of multidisciplinary faculty and staff who go above and beyond to help create a better state of health for all.
Meet Our Team
Work With Us
Our faculty and staff are leading the way toward better health in Arkansas and beyond. Click here to learn more.
Work With Us
Resource Library
Our office offers resources to help you live your healthiest life. Resources are available to the public in English, Spanish and Marshallese.
Resources
UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, is Arkansas’ only academic cancer treatment and research facility.
Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
UAMS Center for Health Literacy
UAMS Center for Health Literacy is dedicated to improving health by making information easy to understand and use.
UAMS Center for Health Literacy
North Street Clinic
The North Street Clinic is a free clinic for Marshallese patients. Click here for more information about the North Street Clinic in English and Marshallese.
North Street Clinic