LITTLE ROCK — The MASH (Medical Application of Science for Health) Partnership is celebrating 15 years of offering high school students the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of healthcare professions in Arkansas.
Approximately 400 students will take part in the two-week medical enrichment experience at 28 locations throughout the state.
The MASH Partnership was established in 1993 and includes Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Baptist Health, the Arkansas Health Department’s Office of Oral Health, the University of Arkansas For Medical Science’s Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Central and the Rural Hospital Program. Students are able to attend the camps free-of-charge due to corporate funding from members of the partnership. County Farm Bureaus and local businesses combine to sponsor students to the camps.
The summer’s first camp was held May 23 – June 6 at Tuckerman High School.
Camps are in process (June 2 – 13) at the following sites:
Baptist Health Medical Center in Arkadelphia, AHEC South Arkansas in El Dorado, AHEC Fort Smith and Sparks Health Systems, and Mena Regional Health System.
Camps will be held at the following sites (with directors and contact numbers):
June 9 – 20
- Batesville White River Medical Center, Kim Looney, (870) 262-1486.
- Crossett Ashley County Medical Center, Shirley White, (870) 364-1272.
- Helena Delta AHEC, Stephanie Loveless, (870) 338-9100.
- Jonesboro AHEC Northeast, Sandra Lusby, (870) 219-7083.
- Lake Village Chicot Memorial Hospital, Laura Potter, (870) 265-5351.
- Little Rock UAMS, Andrea Stokes, (501) 686-5657.
- Mountain Home Baxter Regional Medical Center, Jacqueline Oaks, (870) 508-1762.
- Nashville Howard Memorial Hospital, Gary Miller, (870) 779-6010.
- Paragould Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, Dennis Cooper, (870) 239-7019.
- Pine Bluff AHEC, Karen Puckett, (870) 541-7627.
- Russellville St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Linda Blasingame, (479) 964-5346.
- Texarkana AHEC Southwest, Gary Miller, (870) 779-6010.
June 16 – 27
- Blytheville Great River Medical Center, Joanne Sullivan, (870) 838-7559.
- Forrest City Medical Center, Tiffany Billingsley, (870) 633-4480 ext. 289.
- AHEC Fort Smith and St. Edwards Mercy Medical Center, Jean Sparks, (479) 424-3175.
- Harrison Northwest Arkansas Regional Medical Center, Nancy O’Dell, (870) 365-2592.
- Morrilton St. Anthony’s Medical Center, Leslie McNeal, (501) 977-2426.
- Searcy White County Medical Center, Jennifer Varner, (501) 380-3382.
- Stuttgart Regional Medical Center, Amanda Holsted, (870) 674-6325.
July 7 - 18
- West Memphis Crittenden Memorial Hospital, Renee Rainey, (901) 378-2049.
July 14 – 25
- Clinton Ozark Health Medical Center, Shawn Delk, (501) 745-7004 ext. 102.
- Fayetteville AHEC Northwest, Barbara Woody, (479) 684-5183.
- Heber Springs Baptist Health Medical Center, Kathy Nelson, (501) 206-3256.
The majority of the camps are conducted at medical centers across Arkansas in hopes of attracting local students. Studies indicate that medical students from rural communities are most likely to return to a rural setting to establish their practice.
“The MASH program was established to address the declining number of medical professionals in Arkansas,” says Stanley Reed of Marianna, Arkansas Farm Bureau president. “Its success is measured by the number of MASH graduates who are now practicing in regional and community medical systems, or are students at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ College of Medicine and at nursing schools across the state.”
For information about the MASH program contact Pat Vannatta, UAMS, (501) 686-6557 or Ken Tillman, Arkansas Farm Bureau, (501) 228-1295.
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