Thanks for Your Interest!
Thank you for your interest in our Neurology Residency Program in northwest Arkansas! We hope these FAQs will answer some general questions about our program and we hope to have an opportunity to answer more in-depth questions if you are selected for an interview.
Applicant-Specific Questions
Please also see our Application Process page.
What is your application deadline?
November 1, in ERAS.
Does the program accept osteopathic applicants?
Yes, we accept both allopathic and osteopathic candidates.
By what criteria are residents selected?
Our program utilizes a holistic application review, with a goal to recruit diverse trainees with a passion for Neurology.
How are your interviews scheduled? How will I be notified of an invitation for a Northwest Arkansas interview?
Upon review of applications, candidates selected for interview will be notified by email.
Do you hire outside of the NRMP Match?
We are participating exclusively in the NRMP Match.
Do you offer observerships, externships or volunteer research work?
Visiting student rotations are available for M4s. If interested, please apply for a rotation through our main campus in Little Rock.
Institution: Univ of Arkansas COM
Specialty: Neurology
Course #: NEUR-8409V
Location: UAMS-Washington Regional
Are there any prerequisites for applying?
We require applicants to submit USMLE Step 1 or COMLEX level 1 scores, along with the MSPE letter, and at least three letters of recommendation to have full consideration. Applicants must complete USMLE Step 2 or COMLEX Level 2 by the end of January. There is no minimum USMLE or COMLEX score. We do not believe that a test score reflects the quality of a physician.
This residency program sponsors J-1 visas. For information on other non-immigrant visa types, or if you have questions, visit the UAMS Immigration Services page, or contact UAMS Immigration Services at AskImmigration@uams.edu.
May I visit your campus for a second look?
We offer second look visits in February, after we have completed our rank order list. Visits are not required and do not affect our ranking. They are intended for you to meet the faculty, tour Washington Regional, and get a feel for Northwest Arkansas.
International Medical Graduate Questions
When do you require ECFMG certification? At the time of application or by the time the PGY-1 resident starts residency in July?
We require ECFMG certification at the time of application.
Do you sponsor any Visas?
We sponsor J-1 visas. For information on other non-immigrant visa types, or if you have questions, visit the UAMS Immigration Services page, or contact UAMS Immigration Services at AskImmigration@uams.edu.
Do you accept international medical graduates?
Yes, we accept international graduates.
Is U.S. clinical experience required for international graduates?
You must have U.S. clinical experience in which you had responsibility for patient care and follow-up and were evaluated by faculty preceptors. Please note that we do not count externships, observerships, or research work as clinical experience.
Program-Specific Questions
What are the salary and benefits?
Residents are employed by UAMS, and salaries and chief resident stipends are the same across our institution, regardless of the residency or fellowship specialty. The salaries for the 2025-2026 academic year are:
PGY1: $61,281
PGY2: $63,640
PGY3: $66,102
Chief residents receive an additional $1,000 stipend.
Residents are employees of UAMS and receive 21 days of vacation and 12 sick days annually. These days may not be rolled over to the following academic year. Residents are also given five additional vacation days they can use over the course of their residency. Medical, Parental, or Caregiver leave provides residents with six weeks of paid leave that can be used one time during residency. Residents receive comprehensive medical and dental benefits. Please see summary of benefits for more details.
Are there funds to support resident education or research?
Yes, residents receive a $1,000 per year e-fund that can be used for conference attendance, books, publication submission fees, or similar costs. This e-fund does not roll over to the following academic year.
What does the program provide that I don’t need to pay for with my e-fund?
The residency program provides the certification/recertification fees for PALS, BLS, and ACLS. We provide access to Q-banks for USLME Step 3 or COMLEX 3 for one year. If you do not pass step 3 during this subscription period, you may use your e-fund to pay for a new subscription. We also provide ample resources to prepare you for your board certification that can be used both in didactics and for independent study. The program provides resident membership in AAN as well as registration and travel costs for residents to attend and participate in at least one national conference. Residents can access the UAMS Library in person at the UAMS Northwest Campus in Fayetteville or can access the UAMS Library, which provides access to 118 research and clinical databases, 17,616 electronic journals, and 1640 electronic books. Should you need a physical book from the library in Little Rock, our Fayetteville-based librarian can get it for you.
How is the parking situation?
You can park for free at all rotation sites.
How far do I have to travel for rotations?
Nearly all rotations occur at Washington Regional. Child neurology rotations take place at Arkansas Children’s Northwest Hospital and Clinics in Springdale, which is a 10-15 minute drive from our primary site. The other offsite rotations are located just a few blocks from Washington Regional: UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute Northwest for outpatient psychiatry, Encompass Health for neuro-rehabilitation, and MANA Sleep Medicine Clinic for sleep neurology.
Where do most residents end up living and do they buy or rent?
The clinical training experiences are located in Fayetteville and Springdale. We recommend residents look for housing in this area. There are many options for sale or rent.
What is the culture like at Washington Regional?
Washington Regional is a great place to train and work! The hospital leadership are incredibly supportive of GME. We have a 6400 square foot GME Suite on the 3rd floor, built in 2022, with classrooms, team rooms, lockers, program offices, meeting spaces, and a resident lounge with a stocked refrigerator. Hot lunches are provided at weekly didactics. UAMS also sponsors emergency medicine, internal medicine, and family medicine residencies at WRMC. This gives us the best of both worlds – you can interact with and learn from residents in other disciplines, but you are the primary learners in the neurology wards and neuro ICU and the only learners in the neurology clinics. Our program maintains a 1:1 faculty to resident ratio, and with the smaller size of our program, you will have significant time and attention from your attending faculty.
What does the didactic component look like?
We have protected time for noon didactics, which can include interdisciplinary/interprofessional case conferences, lectures on topics in any of the subspecialties of neurology, case presentations from faculty or residents, research mentorship, wellness activities, guest lectures, and simulation. A hot lunch is provided in the GME suite. Journal club is held monthly.
How do I accomplish my research requirement?
During PGY1, we provide residents with a research curriculum that teaches you the ins and outs of scholarly work, from how to form a research question or identify a QI project to how to get IRB approval, collect and analyze data, and disseminate the results. Dr. Hanna Jensen serves as research faculty in all of the UAMS residency programs at Washington Regional. She provides weekly research mentoring sessions onsite and is available to assist residents every step of the way. Dr. Jensen works with multiple departments at UAMS and at Washington Regional to identify opportunities for cross-department or multi-site research. You will also be assigned a faculty mentor at the beginning of residency who will meet with you regularly and provide mentorship on your research and education.
Will I teach students in this program?
Yes! Washington Regional is a rotation site for UAMS medical students from the UAMS Northwest Campus, located just a few minutes away in Fayetteville, and your teaching teams may include medical students, especially on inpatient wards rotations, inpatient neurology rotations, and in the ED. You can also work with medical students and UAMS students from other disciplines on research projects.
What about wellness?
Our program places a high value on wellness and on maintaining an environment that is professional, respectful, and conducive to learning. We make every reasonable effort to manage resident schedules to address work hours and intensity and promote both continuity of care and learner well-being. Residents have access to healthy food and beverages, free of charge, while on duty at Washington Regional and can also make use of the Washington Regional Center for Exercise, which is located adjacent to the hospital.
In coordination with UAMS and the GME Office, residents have 24/7 access to an array of mental health services, including confidential psychiatric care and counseling. Residents may also use sick days to address mental health concerns.