The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Pathways Academy will host an Open House for all interested kindergarten-5th grade students and their families on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 6 p.m. at Perritt Primary School. 

The UAMS Pathways Academy Summer Intensive Camp is free of charge for attendees and includes fun hands-on activities for students which exposes them to careers in STEM and Healthcare. The camp will be held June 12-23, 2023 at Perritt Primary. Activities include fun science experiments, engineering challenges, gardening, as well preparing healthy snacks. The program also builds community by creating team chants and cheers.

“There is a need for more students to enter the healthcare workforce, especially for rural communities like Arkadelphia,” said Dr. Shanea Nelson, executive director of Pathways Academy. “This is a great way to engage students in STEM-Healthcare disciplines early on to peak their interests in pursuing a career in healthcare.”

This year’s theme will be Innovators, Thinkers and Tinkerers, with a curriculum that focuses on technology in medicine.

The Open House will cover more detailed information about the program and what parents can expect during the 2-week summer intensive camp.

Applications will be accepted until all 50 slots are filled.

Those who are interested in applying or who want to receive more information about Pathways Academy can visit ddei.uams.edu/outreach-programs/pathways-academy.

Original article, republished with permission

By CHRIS CARMODY | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is accepting applications for its Pathways Academy program for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Pathways Academy is an educational and community engagement program that focuses on preparing K-12 students for opportunities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health sciences (STEM-H) disciplines.

In 2022, the program’s inaugural year, Pathways Academy accepted scholars at pilot sites in Hot Springs, Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Springdale. It is expanding its reach this year to include Arkadelphia, Camden, Helena-West Helena and Jonesboro.

Pathways consists of four academies: the Junior STEM Academy for kindergarten through fifth grade; the Senior STEM Academy for grades six through eight; and the RAMP-UP program and the Student Athlete STEM Academy, both of which cover grades nine through 12.

Pathways’ summer programming features a series of camps that provide hands-on experiences such as science experiments, engineering challenges and healthy-snack preparation. RAMP-UP and Senior STEM Academy scholars will engage in community-based research projects and will be invited to present their work at a summer research symposium in August.

 The locations and dates for the summer intensive camps are:

• • Arkadelphia — Junior STEM Academy, June 12-23 
• • Camden — Junior STEM Academy, June 12-23 
• • Hot Springs — Junior STEM Academy, June 5-16 
• In addition to the summer camps, Pathways Academy holds once-a-month Saturday sessions during the academic year, serving as an extension of the activities the students participate in during the summer. RAMP-UP students also will receive help in preparing for ACT examinations.

“The start of year two for Pathways Academy has exceeded our expectations thus far,” said Nelson. “We are very excited to expand to new sites throughout the state and engage additional communities in our mission to diversify the health care workforce in Arkansas.”