Applications available for MASH camps

Communities hosting camps this year include Blytheville, Conway, Crossett, DeWitt, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Forrest City, Fort Smith, Harrison, Helena, Lake Village, Malvern, Monticello, Paragould, Rogers, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, Warren, and West Memphis.

Deadlines for applications range from March 27 through May 12, but most applications are due in April. For a list of program locations and to apply, see https://regionalcampuses.uams.edu/health-careers/high-school-students/mash/ mash-camp-locations/.

“Helping to create the prototype for our MASH programs 35 years ago is one of the greatest highlights of my career,” said Robin Howell, Sr. Program Manager for UAMS Regional Campuses.

“Since 1988, nearly 10,000 Arkansas students have participated in a MASH camp, with many of them going on to pursue health careers. These programs have helped thousands of students make informed decisions about what they wanted to do with their lives. We have seen many who started in MASH, then came to UAMS, and are now practicing somewhere in Arkansas. We’re very proud of the many ‘homegrown’ Arkansas success stories that began with one of our pipeline programs. And we’re incredibly thankful for the amazing long-term partnership we have in Arkansas Farm Bureau. It simply wouldn’t be possible without them.”

Farm Bureau’s involvement in the programs is an outgrowth of its efforts to ensure access to quality healthcare throughout Arkansas, with a special focus on rural healthcare needs.

“After an almost three-year hiatus, it is exciting to see MASH camps returning,” said Jennifer Craig, Director of Leadership Development for Arkansas Farm Bureau. “The opportunity provided to students through this program is unmatched. For many students, MASH solidifies their commitment to a career in the health field and most importantly, in rural Arkansas.

“Farm Bureau is proud to be a part of ensuring the future of health care providers in rural Arkansas.”

MASH, Mini-MASH and CHAMPS offer a variety of activities and experiences to instruct students in core topics, which may include:

* CPR & First Aid training

* Dissections, Suturing, Casting

* Telemedicine

* Blood typing

* Mental/Behavioral Health issues

* Opioid/Substance Abuse awareness

* Social Media safety