The University of Arkansas System is an academic health center based in Little Rock that operates as Arkansas' largest public employer and only academic medical center. Founded in 1879 by eight physicians investing $625 each to establish the state's first medical school, the organization now spans 84 acres and employs over 12,000 people across a statewide network serving all 75 counties in Arkansas.
The system operates Arkansas' only Adult Level 1 Trauma Center and the state's sole facility offering adult kidney, liver, and pancreas transplants. Its clinical infrastructure includes eight regional family medical centers, eight Centers on Aging, and digital health clinics. Three specialized institutes - the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Reynolds Institute on Aging, and Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute - focus on disease-specific care and research.
The organization integrates patient care delivery, medical education, and biomedical research across its operations. This combination positions it as both a clinical provider and an educational institution, training the next generation of healthcare professionals while advancing medical knowledge through research programs across oncology, geriatrics, neuroscience, and transplantation.
