Program Director
Dr. Joseph H. Bates Preventive Medicine Residency Program
Thank you for your interest in the Dr. Joseph H. Bates Preventive Medicine (Public Health and General Preventive Medicine) residency program at the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine in Little Rock, Arkansas. As the only academic medical center in Arkansas, we offer a unique training opportunity. We have strong relationships with the Arkansas Department of Health and UAMS College of Public Health, where residents can complete various rotations, in addition to their clinical, quality improvement, and other rotations at UAMS College of Medicine. A range of other training opportunities are available, including clinical experiences in lifestyle medicine, occupational medicine, addiction medicine, health care management, and research opportunities.
Our residency program has a strong commitment to developing public health leaders of tomorrow through residency training and education, and we are very excited about having created the first preventive medicine residency program in Arkansas, a state with high levels of preventable morbidity and mortality, where there is a tremendous opportunity to positively impact population health and public health at large.
Optimal public health starts with where we live, work, play, and grow. The keystone of every community is ensuring our air, water, and food are safe; ensuring children are routinely vaccinated; reviewing prescriptions for safety and efficacy; containing illnesses in schools or daycares before they cause outbreaks. Public health educates everyone—patients, physicians, policymakers, and legislators—about issues that make our communities sick and unhealthy. In short, public health serves as an invisible shield, often unnoticed. Our preventive medicine resident physicians are trained, beyond advocating for patients, to advocate and support public health through policy, systems, and environment changes that protect and improve the health of our communities.
If you are looking for an opportunity for well-rounded training in public health and general preventive medicine, in a setting where you can make a significant positive impact, our program is uniquely positioned to offer that. If you have any more questions about our program, please reach out to us.
Bala Simon, MD, DrPH
Program Director
Dr. Joseph H. Bates Preventive Medicine Residency Program