Undergraduate Program

AHEC - Pine Bluff

AHEC – Pine Bluff was established in 1973 and shares responsibilities for health education leading to upgrading the quality and availability of health services in a 15-county area of southeast Arkansas. Our main objective is to provide continuing medical education for health practitioners and students in the area, including regularly scheduled lectures, seminars, workshops, and courses.

Mellville Library, located on the grounds of JRMC in the AHEC-Pine Bluff building adjacent to FPC #1, was established in September 1973. The library has a collection of print and non-print items in the field of medicine, nursing and allied sciences. The library maintains a Reference Section with copies of the latest edition of most of the major medical texts for when the circulating copy is off the shelf. The library subscribes to two online databases for searching: Up-To-Date and MDConsult. Also available to our physicians are numerous online subscription databases accessible through the UAMS Library web site. The computer lab, located in the Audio-Visual Department of Melville Library has 9 PC's, a scanner and two printers (one for color prints). Melville Library has a subscription to the following audiocassettes through Audio-Digest®: Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Ob/Gyn. The Library also maintains a subscription to the Network for Continuing Medical Education (NCME) productions. The NCME and Audio-Digest programs are allowed to circulate. Orientation for the residents includes the circulation policies, checkout procedures, in-house services, and general library operation. The residents have 24-hour access to the Library through a keypad entry system. The Library hours are Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Friday 8:00 to 5:00 p.m.

A preceptorship for sophomore and junior medical students has been successful since 1974. In addition to matching students to preceptors in rural communities, a pre-clinical preceptorship is offered at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Popular and highly successful elective rotations for senior medical students are offered in seventeen specialty and subspecialty areas of practice.

Preceptorship rotations for senior nursing and pharmacy students are provided. Health related professions programs are supervised by full-time faculty in medical technology, respiratory therapy, and radiological technology. Students in biomedical instrumentation technology and physical therapy are provided training at Jefferson Regional Medical Center as a cooperative effort with AHEC – Pine Bluff

The AHEC – Pine Bluff Residency Program was initiated in 1977. Opportunities for senior medical students to assume intern-level responsibilities with active participation in various aspects of patient care are available. The framework of the Area Health Education Center – Pine Bluff is one of strong beliefs and high expectations. Our goal is to provide an excellent training period so that the residents may expect to receive a broad-based curriculum in Family Practice. The concept of Family Practice and total care of the patient is stressed in all areas. The strengths of the program lie in the realm of community support including the hospital and physicians. The faculty provide cognitive expertise and serve as role models to develop the maturity of the student and resident in training.

Pine Bluff has a population of 64,000 and is a river-port city located on the Arkansas River approximately forty miles southeast of Little Rock. The area’s economy is based on agriculture, research, railroad, river and highway transport, light and heavy industry, and wholesale and retail trade. Recreational opportunities are plentiful. The nearby delta area is nationally known for duck, squirrel, deer, quail, turkey, and dove hunting. The southeast Arkansas Arts and Science Center is located in the modern civic center in downtown Pine Bluff and offers many cultural and entertainment programs and attractions. Pine Bluff’s Regional Park, located just north of the central business district, offers a variety of activities and facilities attractive to all ages. Take time to explore the park with its Harbor Oaks championship golf course, playgrounds, beach, boat launching ramps, picnic areas, and softball complex.