The high-yield version.
The quick facts
| 11 PGY-1 positions each year | 3 yrs PGY-1 through PGY-3 | 60k+ ED visits per year | ~25% Admission rate |
| 2,500+ Trauma activations per yea | Only 1 Adult Level I trauma center in Arkansas | 21 Vacation days per year | $2,000 CME fund across residency |
Why Residents Choose Us
What makes this place worth ranking
What We Value
- Authenticity
- Compassion
- Perseverance
- Curiosity
- Community
- Excellence
| Residents who like each other A resident-run wellness task force, weekly department happy hours, a cross-class House Cup, and journal club at faculty homes. Shared ownership is real here, and 24/7 confidential mental health support is always available. |
| The sickest patients in the state As Arkansas’s only adult Level I trauma and burn center, UAMS sees the hardest cases in the state: more than 2,500 trauma activations a year, plus stroke, vascular, toxicologic, and behavioral emergencies, with four months of ICU time. |
| Real pediatric training Longitudinal peds at Arkansas Children’s, the state’s only pediatric hospital and a Level I pediatric trauma center, five minutes away. Dedicated peds EM, PICU, and procedure-focused overnight shifts, with peds woven through every year. See the Curriculum |
| Ultrasound, done right POCUS from day one: an intern bootcamp, required rotations, and an EUFAC-accredited fellowship. Eight machines, fellowship-trained faculty, QA on every scan, and advanced skills through resuscitative TEE. |
| Protected time to learn Around 20 hours of planned education a month on an 18-month systems-based cycle: conference, simulation and procedure labs, journal club, and board prep. You’re excused from clinical duties during protected time. |
| A city you can enjoy Low cost of living, a five-minute commute from Hillcrest, and the Ozarks, rivers, and trails close by. Forbes named Little Rock a top-10 city for young professionals in 2023. Things to do in Little Rock |
Salary & Benefits
What you’ll earn, and what’s covered
| PGY-1- $63,396 |
| PGY-2 – $65,791 |
| PGY-3 – $67,886 |
| Chief residents add $1,000. Figures shown for 2026–2027 |
Free medical and dental, plus the essentials
Insurance is fully covered at no cost. So is almost everything you would otherwise pay for as a resident:
- EMRA, ACEP & SAEM dues
- PALS, ATLS, BLS & ACLS
- Rosh Review
- EKG Weekly
- Rosen’s & Tintinalli’s
- Free attached-garage parking
- Hospital meal credits
- $2,000 CME fund
The essentials, in brief
The full requirements live on our Application Details page. Here’s what most applicants want to confirm first.
| Positions & Match 11 PGY-1 spots We participate in the NRMP Match for eleven categorical PGY-1 positions. | Platform Apply via ResidencyCAS Per CORD guidance, we review applications only through ResidencyCAS. |
| To be ranked Step 2 by December 1 We require a passed Step 2 / Level 2 posted in ResidencyCAS by December 1. At least one SLOE is expected; two are preferred | How we review Holistic, not a cutoff Board scores matter, but they’re one of many factors. We read the whole application |
| Interview day Held virtually You’ll meet faculty and residents, with an evening social hour to connect with the team. Away rotators are automatically invited to interview. | Second looks Optional, after interviews We plan to offer optional in-person second looks once interviews wrap, with group visits in January and February. More details come later in the season. |
A few more answers
What are the shifts like?
Interns work about 19 shifts per block, PGY-2s around 18, and PGY-3s around 17, plus 2 to 4 pediatric ED shifts. Weekday shifts overlap so you can wrap up charting instead of picking up new patients, and weekends are usually 12 hours to protect more full weekends off. Chiefs build the schedule in ShiftAdmin and release it about a month ahead, with consecutive days off around the holidays when possible.
How do vacation and leave work?
You get three weeks (21 days) of paid vacation a year, with reduced shift counts on vacation blocks. Parental leave is a minimum of six protected weeks for residents of any gender and is fully FMLA-compliant, and UAMS recently opened an on-site childcare center available to residents.
What about research and scholarship?
Our Division of Research and EBM helps you find scholarship that fits your interests. It’s required but flexible, with current projects spanning street medicine, medical education, alternatives to opioids, trauma, and quality improvement. Residents are well supported to present regionally, nationally, and internationally
Do you offer fellowships?
Yes: an EUFAC-accredited Ultrasound fellowship (since 2017) and a Medical Education fellowship (since 2020), with more in development. We also support residents pursuing fellowship elsewhere; recent graduates have matched into Toxicology, Ultrasound, Med-Ed, EMS, Critical Care, and Health Policy.
Who do you serve?
As the state’s only academic medical center and adult Level I trauma center, we care for a broad, diverse population from every corner of Arkansas, including patients facing real barriers to care. Social workers staff the ED around the clock, and residents engage the community through local partnerships.
Are you involved in EM nationally?
Yes. The department pays your dues and certifications and encourages involvement with EMRA, CORD, SAEM/RAMS, and AAEM. PGY-3 residents take an annual trip to ACEP, and our faculty hold leadership roles across ACEP, CORD, and SAEM.
Where do graduates practice?
Across nearly 40 years we’ve trained more than 200 emergency physicians. Many stay in the region; others practice nationwide or pursue fellowship and academic roles. Career planning, CV review, and contract guidance are built into your time here.
Can my partner be part of the process?
Absolutely. Our residents’ partners are glad to talk with yours about moving here, raising a family, and life in Little Rock. Tell us what would help and we’ll connect you with a household similar to your own.
Where can I see more of your program?
Follow @uams_em on Instagram and our Facebook page for day-in-the-life content, plus department and city videos on the site.
Still Curious?
The rest, we’ll cover in person.
Interviews are virtual this year, with evening socials so you can meet the residents. Optional in-person second looks follow in the winter, and our residents’ partners are glad to talk with yours about life in Little Rock. When you’re ready to apply, Application Details has the full checklist, dates, and steps.