The UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, was established in response to the growing demand for healthcare professionals and limited educational capacity at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) main campus in Little Rock.     

Planning began in 2006, and the new campus officially launched in 2007 on the site of the former Washington Regional Medical Center. Renovations continued through 2009, transforming the facility into a functional academic center with classrooms, administrative offices, and student spaces.

In 2009, the campus welcomed its first cohort of third- and fourth-year medical students. Over the next few years, the campus rapidly expanded to include programs from other UAMS colleges, including Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Professions. By 2011, student enrollment had surpassed 100, with an additional 30 medical residents training on-site.

Programmatic growth continued with significant milestones. In 2012, the College of Nursing appointed its first regional assistant dean, and in 2013 the Pat & Willard Walker Student Clinical Education Center opened, featuring advanced simulation facilities for clinical training. The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program launched in 2014, alongside an outpatient therapy clinic and the North Street Clinic, which focused on culturally sensitive diabetes care for the region’s Marshallese population. 

In 2015, the campus welcomed its first internal medicine residents and enrolled the inaugural DPT class. That same year, UAMS established the Center for Pacific Islander Health, the first of its kind in the continental U.S., dedicated to improving health outcomes among Pacific Islander communities.

Today, the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus serves approximately 350 students across a wide range of disciplines, including Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Genetic Counseling, and Diagnostic Medical Sonography. The campus supports several residency programs in Family Medicine, Rural Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pharmacy, as well as a Sports Medicine fellowship.

Clinically, UAMS Northwest operates over a dozen healthcare facilities throughout the region, offering services such as primary care, orthopedics, pediatric wellness, and genetics counseling. In addition to clinical and academic work, the campus leads numerous community health initiatives through its Institute for Community Health Innovation, which supports research, education, and outreach focused on chronic disease prevention, nutrition, and reducing health disparities.

From its modest beginnings, UAMS Northwest has grown into a vital hub for healthcare education, research, and service in Northwest Arkansas.