Honors in Underserved Primary Care (HUPC)
What is HUPC?
HUPC at UAMS is a multi-year, stipend supported, guided track that provides medical students with camaraderie, faculty and staff support, UAMS resources and educational opportunities to encourage students to pursue community based primary care as a medical career. Primary Care includes: Family Medicine, Geriatrics, General Internal Medicine, General Pediatrics, Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, General Obstetrics and Gynecology. The HUPC curriculum and program activities have been specifically designed to enhance each student’s understanding and practice of Primary Care medicine in rural and urban underserved communities, particularly in Arkansas.
Through early clinical experiences with area Primary Care/Family Medicine physicians, students gain unique insights, develop relationships with the rural/urban physicians and increase their marketability for the future. Each student will choose, investigate and develop a longitudinal project; explore and evaluate resources then write a literature review to support that project; and participate in other primary care related activities.
Requirements for Application/Acceptance
Application Process
Entrance into HUPC requires a high level of student commitment and engagement, as well as faculty confidence in students’ likely success in maintaining the workload and completing all requirements over 4 years/3YRs Accelerated. HUPC mentors, faculty, physicians and staff are available to nurture student interest in a career in primary care/family medicine and are available to serve as personal and professional resources.
Requirements to apply include but are not limited to:
- M1/M1-A COM Students in good academic standing
- Passion for Primary Care/Family Medicine
- Passion working with Underserved populations
- Completed HUPC Application.
- Virtual Interview with HUPC Team member
- Maximum number of 15 students accepted into HUPC each year
- HUPC applications accepted during M1/M1-A year: August through Mid-February, 2027.
Membership in Other UAMS Honors Programs
UAMS COM policy permits participation in one Honors track (UAMS College of Medicine Honors Tracks | UAMS College of Medicine). Participation in two Honors Tracks is permitted under certain circumstances and requires pre-HUPC admission approval of Dr. John Spollen SpollenJohnJ@uams.edu and/or Dr. Rebecca Latch LatchRebeccaL@uams.edu.
It is the student’s responsibility to obtain dual Honors program participation approval and note that process on their HUPC application. The HUPC Team will evaluate this portion on their HUPC application and if necessary, in their virtual interview.
UAMS Honors Programs:
- Honors in Research
- Honors in Medical Humanities
- Honors in Pediatrics
- Honors in Global Health and Service
- Honors in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Masters in Public Health
After the application is received, students are notified via email within two weeks to schedule a virtual interview with a HUPC Team Member. This brief virtual interview, paired with their application, will determine acceptance into the HUPC program.
NEW HUPC Student Acceptance Process
Approximately two weeks following the virtual interview, NEW HUPC students will receive email notification of acceptance or non-acceptance.
If accepted, the email will include the following:
- confirmation of HUPC acceptance
- documents to complete to receive first year stipend
- a brief list of M1 requirements with links to HUPC resources
- contact information for HUPC Education Coordinator.
In addition, after M1 Spring Break, the HUPC Education Coordinator will set up a meet/greet (virtual or in-person) with the entire new HUPC Cohort class and HUPC Team Members. The purpose: to get acquainted, answer questions and share the HUPC Program Requirements Checklist that students use to document/track HUPC requirements.
HUPC Stipend Information
First Year Students
Following acceptance into HUPC program, students receive a stipend payment for their first year.
Standard Four-Year Track: 4YR = $2500
Accelerated Three-Year Track: 3YR-A = $3400
Current HUPC Students:
Beginning the fall of each academic year, all current HUPC students (Rising M2s-M3s-M4s) will complete a checklist of required program activities from their previous HUPC year. This Program Checklist includes all HUPC Program requirements and deadlines and is located/stored on HUPC TEAMS. These HUPC Program activities are required for ALL HUPC students (Standard 4YR and Accelerated 3YR-A) except where noted. Each student keeps their individual checklist saved on HUPC TEAMS. Students keep these checklists updated with required program activities and optional program activities as it is used to award their annual HUPC stipends.
The HUPC Team will review the completed checklist and will determine the continuation of students’ stipend award. Students will be notified via HUPC TEAMS and UAMS email of the results and hopefully by November, stipend checks will be mailed.
- Standard Four-Year Track: 4YR = $2500 (Years 2 thru 4)
- Accelerated Three-Year Track: 3YR-A = $3300 (Years: 2-A & 3-A)
TOTAL Potential Awards:
- Standard Four-Year Track: 4YR = $10,000 ($2500 x 4)
- Accelerated Three-Year Track: 3YR-A = $10,000 ($3400 x 1; $3300 x2))
Other Stipend Information
HUPC students will not receive stipends for required HUPC assignments/activities: Continuity Clinic, Family Medicine Preceptorship, JR Clerkship, Select Extracurricular Activities.
HUPC students are eligible to receive stipends for any assignments/activities/classes NOT required by HUPC: Student Ambassadors, Service-Learning Project, MASH Camp Assistant, Select Extracurricular Activities, etc.
Two Program Tracks
HUPC offers Two Program Tracks: a Standard Four-Year Track (4YR) and an Accelerated Three-Year Track (3YR-A)
Standard Four-Year Track (4YR)
The Standard Four-Year Track (4YR) is available at the UAMS Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas campuses. Estimated hours for M3 JR Clerkship in Family Medicine and M4 SR Elective are not included in HUPC total hours. These courses are required in HUPC and COM standard academic curriculum for M3 and M4.
Accelerated Three-Year Track (3YR-A)
NEW for 26-27 Academic Year: The Accelerated Three-Year Track (3YR-A) is available on the UAMS Northwest Arkansas campus and on the UAMS Little Rock campus.
Estimated hours for M2-A JR Clerkship are not included in HUPC total hours. This is a required course in HUPC and NWA COM/LR COM accelerated academic curriculum for M2-A students.
The NWA COM/LR COM 3YR-A curriculum meets HUPC program requirements for these following activities; they are not required for NWA COM/LR COM Accelerated 3YR-A HUPC students: M1 Continuity Clinic, M1 Family Medicine Summer Preceptorship and SR Elective: Rural Primary Care FMED-8404V.
Program Activities Information
The Required Program Activities section provides an in-depth description of all HUPC requirements including deadlines, resources, links, and more.
The Optional Program Activities section is an in-depth description of optional opportunities for HUPC students including resources, links and more.
Required Program Activities
HUPC MD/HUPC Student Assignments
Beginning 25-26 academic school year, each HUPC student was assigned a HUPC MD Team member to help guide and facilitate the students’ progress through core requirement: Longitudinal Project>Lit Review>Abstract>Poster/Presentation>SRD/Conference. This relationship will continue to serve as the approval/revision avenue for these projects. Please utilize HUPC TEAMS, emails and texts for optimal communication and please cc HUPC Education Coordinator as well. The HUPC MD/Student one-on-one support has proven invaluable and will continue for the 26-27 academic year. Check HUPC TEAMS for these MD/Student assignments.
Longitudinal Project LP
The Longitudinal Project (LP) is a core learning activity of HUPC. The LP serves as a foundation on which individual learning, group discussion and undergraduate medical academic experience can be based. HUPC students choose a topic of personal interest that pertains to underserved rural or urban primary care. Students submit the LP topic in question form by deadline to the HUPC Education Coordinator for consideration and approval by the HUPC Program Director/your assigned HUPC MD. Submit via HUPC TEAMS and/or via direct email. Please see consult HUPC checklist for more info.
LP Topic SUBMIT in Question form: DEADLINES
4YRs: DUE: Dec M2 Year
3YR-A: DUE: August M1-A Summer
Literature Review
The Literature Review serves as the foundation for the HUPC Longitudinal Project. Following submission of LP topic for approval, students begin work on the Literature Review. HUPC students choose a minimum of 20 sources to provide the background, context, and foundation from which the student’s LP topic/question is developed, researched, and presented. Students completed Literature Review by deadline to the HUPC Education Coordinator for consideration and approval by the HUPC Program Director/your assigned HUPC MD. Submit via HUPC TEAMS and/or via direct email. Please see consult HUPC checklist for more info.
See the HUPC Student Registration for Medical Publications section under Optional Program Activities for additional resources for the Literature Review
Literature Review Submission Deadline:
4YRs: DUE: October M3 YR
3YR-A: DUE: March M2-A
Longitudinal Project LP—Senior Deliverables
HUPC students must select one of these approved deliverables for their senior Longitudinal Project presentation: publication in an approved medical-scientific journal OR abstract/poster presentation at UAMS Student Research Day or approved Primary Care Conference.
See HUPC Senior LP Project Deliverables section for more details.
Senior LP Deliverable Decision Deadline:
4YRs: DUE: September M4 Year
3YR-A: DUE: September M3-A
Longitudinal Project to Senior Presentation – Timeline with Deadlines, Resources, and Examples
Family Medicine Physician Mentors
HUPC students will choose a Family Medicine physician mentor by the end of M1/M1-A Spring. This FM physician mentor is different than the mentor assigned by UAMS. These mentors can, but do not have to be, employed with the UAMS system. For example, a FM mentor can be a FM physician from your hometown, a UAMS professor, a family friend or a FM physician the student met while precepting.
The mentor’s role is to provide personal feedback, professional guidance and to nurture students’ interest in serving as a primary care physician in underserved areas in our state. Beginning the Fall of M2 year, students will have contact with their mentor once a semester via email, text, phone call, or an in person visit. Students will document this activity on their HUPC Program Checklist. Students can contact HUPC Education Coordinator or any of the HUPC Team physicians for help in finding a mentor.
FM Physician Mentor Selection Deadline: All M1s: Due end of M1/M1-A Summer
FM Physician Mentor Ongoing Contact: M2/M2-A thru M3-A/M4s: 1x Each Semester
Continuity Clinic CC
Continuity Clinic CC is a half day/4 hours/per week/5 weeks (20 hours TOTAL) during the Standard Four-Year Track (4YR)LR/NWA students’ M1 Spring semester. (CC scheduling begins: January/CC completed: end of April) These half days/hours DO NOT have to be scheduled in consecutive weeks.
Continuity Clinic is an early, unique, hands-on experience within an actual practice of a local family medicine physician. HUPC students will shadow approved Family Medicine doctors: LR students in the Greater Little Rock Metro Area and NWA student in the Fayetteville area.
The student chooses their Continuity Clinic preceptor from a list of pre-approved select physicians. This list is provided via an excel link by the HUPC Education Coordinator. Together, the student and physician determine their schedule; the student submits schedule to the HUPC Education Coordinator.
NWA Accelerated Three-Year Track (3YR-A) students do not participate in Continuity Clinic
Family Medicine Preceptorship FMP
Family Medicine Preceptorship (FMP) is a two week in-clinic experience during the Standard Four-Year Track (4YR) LR/NWA students’ M1 Summer. The online application process begins M1 late January. The goal of Family Medicine Preceptorship is to give undergraduate medical students early hands-on personal experience and exposure to Family Medicine practitioners in underserved rural and/or urban healthcare systems.
After submitting their online application, students work with the M1 Summer Programs Coordinator to select a physician and determine their schedule. The student is encouraged to choose a clinic in any region throughout the state where they can shadow a physician and gain valuable experience observing the family medicine physician- patient relationship. This commitment is two consecutive weeks, 40 hours per week.
Students: during the application/planning process, DO NOT directly contact the FM physicians. The M1 Summer Programs Coordinator will make all FM Preceptorship arrangements after meeting with each student.
Family physicians often practice in a variety of settings—outpatient, inpatient, emergency room, maternity care, etc. For HUPC students wanting experiences outside the outpatient setting for one of the two weeks (for example: one week outpatient and one week emergency room) we will do our best to arrange this experience. However, we have a limited network of preceptors and there is no guarantee for such an arrangement.
Most students plan the two weeks of their preceptorships in June and July; however, this is dependent on FM physician availability and student schedules.
HUPC students DO NOT receive FMP stipend as this is a HUPC requirement. Contact the HUPC Education Coordinator at any time with questions.
NWA Accelerated Three-Year Track (3YR-A) students do not participate in Family Medicine Preceptorship.
Core Texts and Core Texts Discussion Groups
The HUPC Program Director and affiliated faculty view the fundamental texts listed below as necessary for medical students who aspire to live and work in historically underserved areas. Both books are provided for FREE to each HUPC student upon acceptance to the program.
Anne Fadiman, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures (New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux), 2012.
Tracy Kidder, Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World (New York, NY: Random House, Inc.), 2009.
By the end of M1/M1-A summer, students will have completed both texts. During the Fall of M2/M2-A year, HUPC students will attend two of four Core Texts virtual discussion sessions led by a HUPC Team MD member. M2/M2-A students will be notified of Core Texts Discussion Groups virtual meeting schedule via email/HUPC TEAMS. Reach out to HUPC Education Coordinator with any questions.
HUPC Class Specific Meetings
Class specific meetings are required for all HUPC students, doctors and staff. These virtual meetings will be organized by medical school classes and be scheduled once each semester. In addition, after M1 Spring Break, the HUPC Education Coordinator will schedule a meet/greet (virtual or in-person) with the entire new M1 HUPC Cohort class.
Students will have the opportunity to ask questions, information will be presented on various topics to educate and inform students, such as: Longitudinal Projects and literature Reviews; Mentoring, Student Research Day, abstracts/poster information and more.
Student Interest Groups
Beginning their M1/M1-A year and each Fall/Spring of the academic year following until graduation, HUPC students are required to join/maintain membership in at least one of these UAMS Student Interest Groups.
- Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG)
- Rural Medicine Student Leadership Association (RMSLA)
- Pediatric Interest Group (PIG)
- Medicine/Pediatric (Med/Peds)
Family Medicine Grand Rounds
Beginning M2/M2-A Fall year, HUPC students will be required to attend one virtual Family Grand Rounds per semester. This is separate from counting FM Grand Rounds as an Extracurricular Activity ECA.
Each August, an invitation is sent via email from UAMS Family and Preventive Medicine kicking off Family Medicine Grand Rounds for the year. The HUPC Education Coordinator will forward this invitation to all current and new HUPC students. Students will follow the set-up instructions and join the Wednesday virtual FM Grand Rounds as they choose.
To document attendance: students will note date/name of Grand Rounds on their HUPC checklist and save their FM Grand Rounds Certificate of Attendance in their folder on HUPC TEAMS.
Extracurricular Activities ECA
Beginning M2/M2-A Fall year and continuing through M4 year, HUPC students will participate in Extracurricular Activities ECA for 3 hours per semester. No matter the activity, HUPC students are encouraged to explore their professional interests and passion for primary care.
HUPC students have many options for their ECA. Below are examples, not an exhaustive list:
- Approved Student Interest Group Activities: Serve as a committee chair, club officer, or class rep for student interest groups such as Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG), Rural Medical Student Leadership Association (RMSLA), Pediatric Interest Group (PIG), Internal Medicine (IM) or Medical/Pediatric (Med/Peds).
- Become a Student Ambassador
- Attend Family Medicine Grand Rounds (this is separate from the NEW requirement of attending FM Grand Rounds 1x per month)
- Volunteer at a community clinic or not-for-profit
- Other suggested activities presented to HUPC Education Coordinator
Arkansas Health Education Careers (AHEC) Scholars
HUPC students are required to join AHEC Scholars at the start of their M3/M2-A year. Instructions will be sent June prior by the AHEC Scholars Education Coordinator. AHEC Scholars is a two-year program of study that builds on prior education and experiences to include clinical and practical applications for students who are interested in serving rural and underserved populations.
HUPC students DO NOT receive AHEC Scholars Stipend as this is an HUPC requirement.
Contact the HUPC Education Coordinator at any time with questions.
Junior Clerkship
In their M3/M2-A year, HUPC students will rotate through a regionally based, family medicine focused, location found across the state in a Junior Clerkship Rotation. Students are encouraged to choose a 4-week rotation from a unique place around the state to broaden their medical knowledge and experiences. When possible HUPC students get preference placement over other College of Medicine students.
Contact the JR Clerkship Coordinator or HUPC Education Coordinator with questions.
Senior Elective
HUPC M4 4YR students will be required to take Senior Elective course: Rural Primary Care FMED-8404V.
NWA Accelerated Three-Year Track (3YR-A) students do not take Senior Elective course: Rural Primary Care FMED-8404V.
HUPC Senior LP Project Deliverables
HUPC students must select one of these approved deliverables for their senior Longitudinal Project presentation Students MUST inform HUPC TEAM of their presentation format NO LATER than September of their M3-A/M4 year.
- publication in an approved medical-scientific journal
- abstract/poster presentation at UAMS Student Research Day SRD
- abstract/poster presentation at approved Primary Care Conference.
If a HUPC student chooses publication, articles/publications must be submitted to HUPC Education Coordinator and HUPC Program Director for approval by stated deadline below AND PRIOR to Student Research Day SRD application deadline.
- 2027 Articles/Publication HUPC TEAM Review Submission Deadline: September 2026
If a HUPC student chooses the abstract/poster presentation, they can participate in M4/M3-A Spring UAMS Student Research Day SRD. Once the student has chosen to present at UAMS SRD, the HUPC Team works with the student to prepare for the abstract/poster submission/presentation. UAMS Student Research Day is the annual campus-wide venue held for graduate and professional students, postdocs, and medical staff/fellows to present their research.
- 2027 UAMS SRD Abstract Submission Deadline: Approx Date: January 2027
- 2027 UAMS SRD Poster Submission Deadline: Approx Date: December 2026
- 2027 UAMS Student Research Day SRD: Approx Date: March 2027
If a HUPC student chooses to submit/present their abstract/poster at an approved primary care conference, and request funding to attend that conference, students must submit their abstract, name of conference, and all tentative costs to attend/present at that conference for approval by the HUPC team. Limited funds are available through our Federal HRSA MSE grant and are approved on a first come/first served basis. If a student has previously been awarded grant funds to present at a conference, this is taken into consideration to allow other students access. The HUPC Team works with the student to prepare for the abstract/poster submission/presentation.
For more information, see this section below: HUPC Student Conference Support/presentation.
Optional Program Activities
HUPC Student Conference Support
HUPC students are encouraged to submit posters/publications to approved local, regional or national conferences.** If HUPC students’ posters are accepted to present at a conference, limited HRSA grant monies are available to fund select fees/costs on a first come-first serve basis. Following acceptance of poster presentation, the HUPC student will submit the name/date of the conference, name of presentation, pdf or PPT of presentation, breakout of expenses and other pertinent information to the HUPC Education Coordinator. The HUPC Team will determine if the student receives grant funds and the amount of grant funds. If an HUPC student has been awarded these grant funds to attend/present a poster at a conference in the past, this will be noted and taken into consideration to allow others to take advantage of these funds.
**Contact HUPC Education Coordinator for list of approved conferences.
HUPC Student Registration for Medical Publications
HUPC students are encouraged to register for FREE student memberships in the following professional journals. Access to these publications will aid in creating and researching Literature Review for Longitudinal Project.
- American Academy of Family Physicians AAFP
- Society of Teachers of Family Medicine STFM
- National Rural Health Association NRHA
- American College of Physicians ACP
- American Academy of Pediatrics AAP
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ACOG
HUPC Research Opportunities
While committing to or pursuing research is not an HUPC requirement, the HUPC Team understands scientific research is important to HUPC students.
The required HUPC Longitudinal Project LP is an excellent starting point for potential research opportunities.
HUPC students may consider expanding their LP topic into the M1 Summer Programs-Service Learning Project: a stipend supported experience responding to real-life community problems. Research and implement a project to improve the health and welfare of Arkansans. See the Service Learning Projects website for more information or contact the M1 Summer Program Coordinator.
HUPC students may consider using an undeveloped topic/project from a previous course of study (MPH, MS or BS program) for their Longitudinal Project. With further development/approval, this project/LP would be suitable for Student Research Day SRD presentation, publication or conference display.
HUPC students may have opportunities to join ongoing research at UAMS that is related to their Longitudinal Project or other interests. Involvement with an approved research study would be suitable for Student Research Day SRD presentation, DFPM Research Symposium, publication or conference display. HUPC students can reach out directly to UAMS Department of Family and Preventive Medicine physician/staff or other UAMS physicians already pursuing research the student is interested in. Contact HUPC Program Director or HUPC Education Coordinator for more information.
See the Longitudinal Projects section for more information.
HUPC students can also consider participating in the Honors in Research track. Contact Dr Robert Mcgehee, Director, Honors in Research, for more information.
Membership in Other UAMS Honors Programs
UAMS COM policy permits participation in one Honors track (UAMS College of Medicine Honors Tracks | UAMS College of Medicine). Participation in two Honors Tracks is permitted under certain circumstances and requires pre-HUPC admission approval of Dr. John Spollen SpollenJohnJ@uams.edu and/or Dr. Rebecca Latch LatchRebeccaL@uams.edu.
It is the student’s responsibility to obtain dual Honors program participation approval and note that process on their HUPC application. The HUPC Team will evaluate this portion on their HUPC application and if necessary, in their virtual interview.
UAMS Honors Programs: Honors in Research, Honors in Medical Humanities, Honors in Pediatrics, Honors in Global Health and Service, Honors in Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Masters in Public Health.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I manage and communicate my progress in HUPC?
HUPC students and HUPC Team members are encouraged to communicate via cell phone (call/text), HUPC TEAMS and email. The HUPC Team is available to support you!!
HUPC Teams has been introduced as the NEW, main platform for HUPC communications, information sharing, file storage/sharing and problem-solving. Students, staff and MDs can track all HUPC program progress, get help with any questions or concerns and communicate in a timely manner to provide support in real time.
In addition, the HUPC Program Checklist is posted on HUPC TEAMS and lists all HUPC requirements for each COM year. Students will use the checklist to monitor/update their HUPC progress on an ongoing basis. Students can save their checklist updates in HUPC TEAMS and refer to it throughout their time in HUPC.
It is each student’s responsibility to update their progress on their individual HUPC Checklist and to keep it current. This HUPC Checklist will be used to award the annual HUPC stipends to current students. Students are encouraged to contact the HUPC Education Coordinator with any concerns.
HUPC Teams, along with the HUPC website and HUPC handbook, will help keep you informed of all program requirements and be the starting point for answers to your questions.
Goals of HUPC Teams
To create one location for students/HUPC Team to access HUPC data, checklists, resources, Lit Reviews, LP Topics, Continuity Clinic info, and more.
- To create student ownership of their HUPC experience.
- To reduce the monstrous amounts of emails students receive.
- To create a more efficient means of sharing HUPC information.
As a HUPC student, what if I run into issues with meeting certain deadlines? For example, if I’m hospitalized or have several COM tests due the same time?
One of the strengths of HUPC is flexibility and student personal responsibility.
COMMUNICATION IN A TIMELY MANNER IS KEY.
Students MUST respond to deadlines and email/text/phone calls reminders from staff/MDs in a timely manner. Failure to respond in a timely manner (no student response to multiple: emails/texts/voice mails/phone calls after 4 weeks) MAY RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL FROM HUPC.
The HUPC Team supports all students as they manage their COM courses, HUPC schedule and other activities. Please reach out to the HUPC Education Coordinator or the HUPC Program Director when any potential conflicts arise. We are happy to work together to solve any issues.
How do I receive information about HUPC events or other activities?
Currently, our primary communication with HUPC Students is HUPC TEAMS, Cohort Specific Texts, Individual Texts/cell phone calls/UAMS emails, and Cohort specific UAMS emails. In addition, HUPC students receive information from shared social media: HUPC IG, FMIG, RMSLA , GroupMe, and UAMS COM.
If HUPC students have questions or concerns, they are encouraged to reach out to HUPC Education Coordinator or HUPC Program Director at anytime via HUPC TEAMS, our cell phones or UAMS email.
Does HUPC help prepare me for a career in Family Medicine?
- have opportunities to work with/shadow providers across the state in rural and urban settings in various fields of primary care
- meet with residents/physicians from all FM/PC programs at networking events
- have one on one interactions with HUPC team physicians
HUPC can help prepare you for a career in any primary care field: Family Medicine, Geriatrics, General Internal Medicine, General Pediatrics, Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, or General OB/GYN.
HUPC students will:
If I commit to and complete HUPC, do I have to commit to a particular type of residency or practice after graduation?
No, HUPC has no requirements beyond COM graduation. While we encourage all HUPC students to pursue a career path in Primary Care Medicine in underserved communities, preferably in Arkansas, we understand this will not always be the case. However, we strongly feel the unique HUPC didactic and clinical experiences students receive will have a positive, long-lasting influence as they pursue their medical career, no matter their focus.
Are there circumstances where I would need to return the stipend?
Once a student has been awarded a HUPC stipend, there are usually no circumstances where the student would be asked to return that stipend.
What happens if I’m struggling or I fail a class?
If a HUPC student finds themselves facing challenges in UA Medical School, outside or in the classroom or debating their commitment to HUPC, our team is here to help! The HUPC Team is especially concerned with HUPC M1 students and the adjustment to the workload and challenges of medical school.
Please reach out to a fellow medical student, a trusted professor, the HUPC Program Director, the HUPC Education Coordinator, or other HUPC students. Here is a list of contacts to offer support, to answer questions and to help overcome any challenges.
Remember: You are NOT alone.
If a HUPC student receives notice of a failed class, the student must immediately contact Dr Autumn Brown, HUPC Program Director and Heidi Damron HUPC Education Coordinator. A virtual meeting will be scheduled for support, encouragement and to make appropriate plans for remedy.
What if I withdraw from HUPC or Medical School?
If a student decides to withdraw from HUPC program and/or UAMS, the student must contact the HUPC Program Director and the HUPC Education Coordinator. After careful consideration and counsel from HUPC Program Director and others, the student must send written confirmation of their withdrawal from HUPC to Dr Autumn Brown,n, HUPC Program Director.
Do I receive a grade for HUPC?
No, students do not receive a grade. HUPC is an extracurricular honors program. Its coursework is routinely documented by students and staff and evaluated as pass/fail. HUPC does not count toward your grade point average or class rank. HUPC physicians, staff and students remain in close contact as events arise that might affect the student’s ability to complete coursework as noted in printed schedule. The HUPC Program Director, HUPC Education Coordinator and others are available to help make schedule adjustments.
What do I receive when I complete HUPC?
UAMS COM Senior graduating students that satisfactorily complete the HUPC program requirements receive UAMS recognition. At the annual spring UAMS COM Honors Convocation, HUPC Seniors receive gold and white honor cords. In addition, per Dr John Spollen, Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at UAMS: “…as [HUPC is part of UAMS Honors Track] … [and] they complete the requirements of that track, [they] are recognized at graduation and have the inscription “with Honors in ______________” on their diploma. Participation in an honors track is also noted on the MSPE or dean’s letter which is a part of the residency application process.”
HUPC Contacts for Student Support
Autumn Brown, MD, MPH
HUPC Program Director
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
Patrick Sullins, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
Amber K. Norris, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
David Kelley, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Preventative Medicine
Course Director Principle of Medicine 2
M2 HUPC Core Text Discussion Group Leader
Director, DFPM Division of Medical Student Education
Heidi Damron, MS
HUPC Education Coordinator