By Philip Allison

First held in 1988, MASH is a two-week program held at UAMS Regional Campuses and community hospitals across Arkansas. A similar program, condensed into a single week known as miniMASH, is also offered. Participants must be entering the 11th or 12th grades and have at least a 2.5 grade point average. In a related program, students who will be entering eighth, ninth or 10th grade are eligible for a one-week intensive Community Health Applied in Medical Public Service (CHAMPS) program.

This year, 27 different sessions were held in 23 cities around the state. The program is free for students, thanks to a partnership with Arkansas Farm Bureau. In 2023, Arkansas Farm Bureau pledged a gift of $500,000 over five years to create the Farm Bureau Fund for Excellence, which will support health career recruitment efforts.

The MASH program offers a variety of hands-on activities and in-person experiences, such as:

Tour of the UAMS mobile unit
Suturing
Casting
Blood typing
Porcine heart dissection
Respiratory therapy
Mock trauma simulation
Sonography
Genetic counseling

UAMS MASH Program Introduces High School Students to Health Care Careers