Professor Sponsors High School, Undergrad Students in 2 UAMS Health Career Programs

By Chris Carmody

A pair of community engagement programs in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Division for Academic Pathways and Workforce Partnerships will be able to accept more students this year thanks to support from a professor in the College of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics.

David Becton, M.D., a pediatric hematologist and oncologist who treats patients at Arkansas Children’s, has agreed to provide $45,000 in endowed chair discretionary funds to sponsor students in the Pre-Medical Summer Scholars and Summer Research Internship programs over a two-year period.

Becton is the inaugural recipient of Arkansas Children’s Lawrence H. Schmieding Endowed Chair in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, which was established in 2015. He said the UAMS programs are the first of their kind that he’s supported through Arkansas Children’s endowment funds.

Professor Sponsors High School, Undergrad Students in 2 UAMS Health Career Programs

Students from UAMS’ Health Career University programs gather for a 2023 ceremony that celebrated their achievements. Health Career University helps students from rural and medically underserved communities gain exposure to health professions and advice on how to get into academic institutions like UAMS.