Message from the Program Director
Tabsum Imran, M.D., FAAFP
The UAMS Family Medicine Rural Track Program was established in 2022 with a vision of preparing highly skilled, compassionate family physicians to serve rural and underserved communities throughout Arkansas. As one of the state’s first Rural Track Programs, the residency provides comprehensive training while fostering strong relationships with the communities served by its residents and graduates.
Tabasum Imran, MD, FAAFP, serves as Program Director and Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. Dr. Imran graduated from Dow Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan, and completed her Family Medicine residency training at UAMS Fort Smith in 2011. She joined the UAMS faculty that same year and has served in a variety of clinical, educational, research, quality improvement, and leadership roles. In 2018, she completed the National Institute for Program Director Development (NIPDD) Fellowship through the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors, and in 2023 she was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP). Since joining UAMS, she has remained committed to resident education, mentorship, scholarly activity, and advancing the quality of patient care. Her commitment reflects the program’s mission of preparing family physicians who are equipped to meet the evolving healthcare needs of their communities.
The Rural Track Program offers a unique educational model that combines the resources of a larger residency program with immersive rural training experiences. Residents benefit from a distinctive 1-2 training model, completing their first year in Fayetteville, where they build a strong foundation in inpatient and outpatient family medicine. Our partner program, the UAMS Northwest Family Medicine Residency based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, was established in 1970s, and also supports a Sports Medicine Fellowship program. During their second and third years, residents transition to Berryville and Eureka Springs, where they train in a rural setting and develop the skills needed to provide comprehensive, community-focused care across the full spectrum of Family Medicine.
The Rural Training Program provides residents with personalized mentorship, broad-spectrum clinical training, leadership opportunities, and meaningful community engagement. The faculty, residents, and staff are committed to creating a supportive learning environment that fosters professional growth, lifelong learning, and excellence in patient care.
Applicants seeking a residency experience that combines outstanding clinical training, close faculty mentorship, and a commitment to rural health will find a welcoming and rewarding environment in Berryville and Eureka Springs. The program looks forward to training the next generation of family physicians dedicated to serving rural communities throughout Arkansas and beyond. Northwest Arkansas-both our urban and rural areas, have much to offer, and we are excited to share that with you during your residency training.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
Tabasum Imran, MD, FAAFP
Program Director
UAMS Family Medicine Rural Track Program (Berryville/Eureka Springs)
Associate Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine