BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Alice Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) has achieved preliminary accreditation, meaning it can begin accepting applications from would-be students ahead of its 2025 completion.
The competition could get tight as the school is only accepting 48 students for its inaugural class, beginning in July 2025.
Sharmila Makhija, MD, MBA, Founding Dean and CEO of AWSOM calls this a vital time for the new school and said the designation is the result of years of hard work.
Alice Walton, who just last month became the wealthiest woman in the world, hopes the school will play a big role in educating the next generation of doctors, "equipping them to care for the whole person and making a lasting impact on health care in the Heartland and beyond.”
The following renderings of the school were sent to 5NEWS:
The school is expected to open in July 2025 with plans to build study halls, a public gallery, a library, clinical teaching spaces, administration offices, a student lounge, covered bicycle parking, and recreational wellness areas, according to a press release.
Construction of a housing complex, including student apartments, will begin in early 2025.
AWSOM has partnered with Mercy and Heartland Whole Health Institute as part of a 30-year, $700 million agreement to "expand access to health care, reduce costs, and improve health outcomes in the region."
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