Alice L. Walton School of Medicine

09/14/2026

Alice L. Walton School of Medicine congratulates The Perinatal Center Arkansas for receiving an $871,736 Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program grant. The grant will expand access to specialized care to rural pregnant patients with gestational or pre-existing diabetes. David Deschamps, MD, AWSOM OB-GYN Clerkship Director and Reproductive System & Breast Health Course Co-Director, and Keely Robinson, MD, AWSOM Adjunct Assistant Professor, both practice at The Perinatal Center. For many years, Dr. Deschamps was the only Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist serving Northwest Arkansas. This grant highlights Dr. Deschamps and Dr. Robinson’s ongoing commitment to improving maternal health and expanding access to care for our community.

We are thrilled to announce that The Perinatal Center has been awarded an $871,736 grant through the Arkansas Rural Health Transformation program!

Through our partnership with LilyLink, this funding will support the Rural Arkansas Technology-Enabled Maternal Diabetes Program in Benton County, expanding access to specialized care for rural pregnant patients with gestational or pre-existing diabetes.

The program will provide connected glucose devices, patient onboarding and diabetes education, weekly clinical reviews and treatment adjustments, and postpartum follow-up.

This is an incredible opportunity to improve maternal and fetal health and bring innovative care to rural communities across Arkansas. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this opportunity possible and proud of the partnerships that will help bring this vision to life.

We can’t wait to see the impact this program will have on moms and babies! 💙

09/08/2026

Ryan Sheedy visited Alice L. Walton School of Medicine to speak to AWSOM M2 students about his family's experience with complex pediatric care after his son, Reynolds, was diagnosed with Costello Syndrome shortly after birth. The session was co-facilitated by Stanford Medicine pediatrician Kevin Chi, MD. During the session, students learned about the day-to-day realities of navigating complex medical illness, communication methods for improving family-centered care, and the interactions with doctors that made a difference for Reynolds and his family.

A special thanks to our Clinical Skills Educator Bryan Harvey, MD, who connected the Sheedy family with course leadership and AWSOM team members Sarah Assem, MD, Kevin Kunkler, MD, and Christina Harris, MPM.

Sharmila Makhija

09/04/2026

Alice L. Walton School of Medicine M1 students learned the fundamentals of communication and history taking during a recent session in their Early Clinical Skills & Experiences course, directed by Kevin Kunkler, MD, and Sarah Assem, MD.

During this session, AWSOM Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor and Clinical Skills Educator Adriana Stacey, MD, shared the story of her daughter, Mary Virginia, who passed away earlier this year due to complications from influenza. Mary Virginia experienced complex health problems from a young age, problems that went undiagnosed for years until her medical history was explored further. Her story is a powerful testament to the importance of communication and active listening in physicians.

Dr. Stacey, thank you for sharing your family's story with our students. AWSOM is proud to have you as part of our faculty.

Sharmila Makhija

09/02/2026

Interested in applying to Alice L. Walton School of Medicine? Sign up for our next virtual Admissions Information Session on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. (CST), where you'll hear from our Admissions Team and have the opportunity to ask questions. Register here: https://share.hsforms.com/10rGim9TdRQiVwQ4WlVxJpwr2qrt

Sharmila Makhija

08/28/2026

During an outdoor class session led by Lance Bridges, PhD, and Marie Berenguer, PhD, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine M1 students learned about how iron is absorbed into the body through dietary sources and how to remove bilirubin from the body to prevent jaundice. Sharmila Makhija

08/20/2026

Alice L. Walton School of Medicine M1 students learned Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) procedure for a variety of medical scenarios and practiced handwashing techniques. This session was held in AWSOM’s 8,800-square-foot Simulation Lab and utilized surgical scrub sinks, a specialized handwashing station designed for medical professionals. Sharmila Makhija

08/05/2026

Alice L. Walton School of Medicine Director, Medical Student Research Projects and Associate Professor Abhishek Deshpande, MD, PhD, FIDSA, was recently interviewed by Medscape about his first-authored study in Gastro Hep Advances, a national survey of >300 U.S. physicians conducted with support from the American Gastroenterological Association, documenting wide variation in how Clostridioides difficile infection is diagnosed and managed in the US.

Read more: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/wide-variations-exist-c-diff-testing-treatment-and-guideline-2026a1000q4a?src=

Sharmila Makhija

07/27/2026

Alice L. Walton School of Medicine M2 student Emily Bunch was recently featured in the Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society as a student trustee. In this profile, she shares why she joined AMS and what drew her to pursue medicine.

Read the profile on page 25 of the Journal’s Summer 2026 issue: https://www.flipsnack.com/95E7C977C6F/ams-journal-summer-2026?p=24

Sharmila Makhija

07/20/2026

As part of Orientation Week, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine students connect with the community during AWSOM in Action, a day of service across Northwest Arkansas. Our second cohort made a positive difference working alongside four of our community partners. Thank you to Boys & Girls Club of Benton County, EverHope Arkansas Children’s Shelter, Samaritan Community Center, and Family Network Inc. Northwest Arkansas for inviting our students to help enhance your impact.

This year, AWSOM students:
🔸Repainted approximately 700 square feet of wall in fresh blue paint at the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County, while meeting and interacting with Club members
🔸Helped clean, organize, and set up a new activity wing at EverHope Children’s Shelter
🔸Packed six activity bags for home visitors to use during developmental assessments, 50 welcome kits for new families, and 8,275 diapers for distribution by Family Network Inc.
🔸Guided community members through different food choices, stocked shelves, and bagged produce in the Samaritan Community Center Market and served community members in the Samaritan Community Center Café

Sharmila Makhija

07/20/2026