Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are your programs separate from the residency and fellowship programs at UAMS in Little Rock?
A: Yes, we are two separate ACGME-accredited sponsoring institutions: UAMS Regional Centers and UAMS College of Medicine. Both sponsoring institutions report through the Dean of the UAMS College of Medicine.
Q: Why are there two sponsoring institutions?
A: UAMS recognizes that community residency programs, in partnership with community hospitals, are different from programs at an academic medical center and have different needs. Having two sponsoring institutions allows us to give our community programs the time and attention they rightfully deserve.
Q: What is the difference between being a resident in a Regional Centers program vs being a resident in a COM program?
A: The stipend and benefits are the same across all UAMS residency and fellowship programs, both COM and Regional Centers. The main differences are location, clinical partners, and sponsoring institution. Our GME policies align as much as possible with COM GME, with differences mainly attributable to the way our sponsoring institution is spread across the state.
Q: What are the “pros” to being in a community residency program?
A: Many physicians want to build their practices or careers in or alongside community hospitals. Training in this environment gives learners great insight into the reality of community practice. Our Family Medicine programs primarily train in hospitals with a limited GME presence, meaning that you don’t have to compete with residents or fellows from other programs to participate in procedures or care for patients with complex needs. In Northwest Arkansas, where we have multiple programs, residents may participate in shared didactics or rotate in the same units with other residents, which provides opportunities to learn from each other but without a crowded learning environment.
Q: Will I be able to do research in your programs?
A: Absolutely! Scholarly activity is a large part of all of our residency and fellowship programs. Our residents participate in quality improvement projects and develop poster presentations and peer-reviewed publications. In Northwest Arkansas, our residents participate in a structured, longitudinal, multi-disciplinary research curriculum and mentorship program that culminates in presentation or peer-reviewed publication. Outside of Northwest Arkansas, the UAMS Department of Family and Preventive Medicine provides guidance and support for residents to exceed the ACGME requirements for scholarly activity. Many of our programs also have research electives or rotations to provide additional time for residents and fellows to complete research projects.
Q: Am I required to do rotations in Little Rock?
A: It varies by program. Some – but not all – of our Family Medicine programs have a brief pediatric inpatient and pediatric emergency medicine rotation at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. Two of our Family Medicine rural training programs spend PGY1 at UAMS in Little Rock. Our Emergency Medicine residency does a pediatric ICU rotation at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Neurology, Internal Medicine, and Sports Medicine have no Little Rock rotations.
Q: I am considering applying for a fellowship program after residency. If I am a resident in one of your programs, can I rotate with a UAMS fellowship program in Little Rock?
A: Yes. Our residents, as UAMS residents, receive preferential scheduling for visiting rotations at UAMS Medical Center and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The residency program you are considering can answer specific questions regarding fellowship audition rotations.
Q: Are your interviews online or in person?
A: This varies by program. Please contact the specific UAMS Regional Centers program for more information.
Q: What are the resident/fellow salaries?
A: Please see our Applicant Information page for updated stipend and benefit information.
Contact Us
Do you have questions for the GME team? Email us at RegionalCentersGME@UAMS.edu.
Need to reach one of our programs? Visit our Program Directory.