John Brown University in Siloam Springs has announced a $34.5 million gift to launch a Master of Science in physician assistant studies and three Master of Science nurse practitioner tracks: family nurse practitioner, nurse-midwifery and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.
The gift, provided by the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, advances JBU’s goal of helping to address the critical shortage of advanced medical professionals in Arkansas to serve the state’s primary care, behavioral health and maternal health needs, according to a press release.
Arkansas currently only has two PA programs, with one more in the approval process. JBU’s PA program will be the first in northwest Arkansas.
“JBU has built a nursing program that competes with anyone in the region on clinical preparation and simulation technology, while offering the whole-person formation that shapes not just competent healthcare professionals but compassionate ones,” said Natasha Trotter, D.N.P., JBU department chair for nursing. “Expanding into nurse practitioner and physician assistant education is a natural next step for a program that has already demonstrated it can produce graduates who stay and serve.”
Arkansas currently faces a significant healthcare workforce challenge, ranking 46th nationally in physicians per capita, and with 68 percent of its counties designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas, according to the 2020 Arkansas State Health Assessment. The shortage is particularly acute for physician assistants, with the state projected to meet only 48 percent of its PA workforce needs by 2026, according to a report published by the Arkansas Hospital Association.
“Every year, Arkansas loses talented, motivated students to out-of-state PA programs because there aren’t enough openings in our state. Many of those students never come back,” said Ted Song, Ph.D., JBU’s chief innovation officer. “JBU’s program changes that by giving students a high-quality option right here in Northwest Arkansas.”
The grant will be implemented in two distinct phases. Phase 1 includes a gift of $9.5 million to finish a 7,500-square-foot expansion of JBU’s Health & Technology Center to provide state-of-the-art labs and classroom space, as well as the initial startup costs for faculty recruitment and accreditation. Phase 2, which is contingent on accreditation, establishes a $15 million faculty endowment to ensure market-competitive compensation for faculty and a $10 million scholarship endowment to ensure that the programs remain accessible to students committed to practicing in Arkansas. As part of its Steadfast Faith capital campaign, JBU has raised $7.7 million for the new programs and is working to raise another $6.5 million for a total project investment of $48.7 million.
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