SEPT. 12, 2005 | They’ve spent years learning medicine’s academic side; now 133 new family medicine residents are learning more about the human side of their profession at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Area Health Education Centers (AHECs). 

UAMS family medicine residents move to one of the state’s seven AHEC locations, where they will get at least three years of clinical training. The hope is -- and odds are -- that half will choose to settle in or near those communities.

Although Arkansas needs more doctors in rural areas, UAMS’ 32-year-old AHEC program is a remarkable success story, said Pat Vannatta, associate director of education for the UAMS AHEC program.   Enacted by the State Legislature of 1973, with support of the Governor and the University of Arkansas, the UAMS family medicine residency program was quickly implemented statewide to address the numbers and distribution of health professionals throughout the rural areas of Arkansas.

“It is significant when you realize that 69 of the 75 counties have our graduates practicing there,” Vannatta said. “Not only do the new doctors provide essential services, they also become a part of the fabric of the community where they’re likely to have a family and volunteer.”

During 2004-2005, the AHEC program provided training for 131 AHEC-based family practice residents.

Of the 39 AHEC family practice residents who graduated in 2005, 74 percent (29) are remaining in Arkansas to practice. Of those, 51 percent (15) are practicing in cities of less than 15,000 people.

“The only way this state could address the distribution of family physicians was to have the AHEC model out in the state,” Vannatta said. “The residency program has allowed us to make a vital contribution to medical care in rural areas.”

In all, 562 AHEC-trained family physicians practice in 117 Arkansas communities.

The centers are located at Pine Bluff, El Dorado, Texarkana, Helena, Fort Smith, Jonesboro and Fayetteville.

This year in El Dorado, for example, five family medicine residents graduated from the AHEC program, with three choosing to stay in South Arkansas to practice and a fourth remaining in another Arkansas community..

“Our residency program offers a unique training opportunity,” said Marilyn Marshall, M.D., residency director for El Dorado’s AHEC South Arkansas. “We are certain the residents here graduate with a broad training background and are able to provide excellent care in any community.”

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