Terms & Conditions, Stipend, and Benefits

Pre-Employment Drug Test

UAMS has a drug testing policy which includes pre-employment, random and for cause testing. All residents accepted into residency/fellowship programs at UAMS must submit to a drug screen. Appointment or acceptance into the training program will be finalized only upon completion of a negative drug screen. The procedure for submitting the sample for testing is provided after acceptance into the program.

Background Check

Appointment or acceptance into the training program will be finalized only upon completion of a criminal background check.

All candidates for residency positions will be notified upon invitation for interview (or during a telephone interview if an in-person interview will not be held) that all appointments to residency positions are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check. This notification will include a representative sample of unfavorable information that might prevent appointment as a UAMS Resident.

All applicants for UAMS residency positions are required to authorize the performance of a criminal background check (CBC) at the time the position is offered, or in the event of accepted applicants, at the time that the acceptance result is received.

The resident will be asked to disclose any of the below-listed situations prior to the obtaining of the CBC. If the CBC returns negative information, the resident will have an opportunity to challenge erroneous information, or explain accurate negative information, prior to a final decision. Failure to disclose relevant and accurate information that is later discovered on a CBC adds an additional measure of concern about the applicant’s (or resident’s) qualification for appointment as a resident physician.

The following CBC findings may be inconsistent with an appointment as a resident physician in UAMS College of Medicine programs. If any of these findings are identified on the CBC, the offer of a position may be withdrawn, or employment terminated. Please note the following list is representative, but not inclusive, of reasons an applicant may be denied housestaff status.

  • Felony convictions that may be reasonably related to the practice of medicine
  • Felony convictions related to the illegal possession, use or distribution of drugs or
    controlled substances
  • Felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions involving violence against another
    person
  • A pattern of a repeated felony or misdemeanor convictions that calls to question the
    individual’s ability or willingness to comply with the law, particularly as related to
    one’s future ability to practice medicine
  • Registered sex offender status (or legal requirement to register but not registered)
  • Arrests where the final legal status has not yet been determined
  • Dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States
  • Exclusion from participation in Medicare or similar programs

Applicants to whom any of the findings above may apply are encouraged to discuss the situation with the program director prior to acceptance of a position or rank order listing.

Stipend

Stipends for residents are competitive with other state schools in the southern region.  The stipend for 2023-2024 is $55,123 plus benefits.

Vacation Leave

Residents receive 15 days of paid vacation each year.  These 15 days may be taken during the weeks you are scheduled to work in the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation Oral Health Clinic at UAMS.

Sick Leave

Residents have 12 days of sick leave for medical reasons during their year of training. Sick leave in excess of 12 days requires special review by the Associate Dean and Program Director. It is at the discretion of the program director whether or not a doctor’s note is required.

Holidays

  • New Year’s Day
  • Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday
  • George Washington’s Birthday
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Veteran’s Day
  • Thanksgiving Day (Day after Thanksgiving is a holiday only if declared by the Governor)
  • Christmas Eve
  • Christmas Day
  • Employee’s Birthday

Medical Professional Liability Coverage

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, through the Medical College Physician’s Group, provides each resident with medical professional liability coverage for their activities within the residency/fellowship program. The coverage is written on a claims-made basis. Each resident/fellow is provided coverage in the amount of $500,000 per medical incident with an annual aggregate of $1,500,000. In addition to the limits of liability, the cost of legal defense is also provided. Hence, each resident/fellow is protected against claims for medical negligence for acts and/or omissions surfacing as a result of their UAMS COM approved activities. The coverage provided does not extend to activities outside the residency program. For this reason, any resident involved in moonlighting activities should secure his/her own professional liability coverage for the outside activities. For more information on Risk Management and Prevention click here, or contact the Faculty Group Practice Risk Management Department at 501-614-2077.

Medical, Dental, Basic Life, and Basic Long-Term Disability Insurance

Click here for detailed information or contact OHR at 501-686-5650.

Counseling and Employee Health Services

The Arkansas Employee Assistance Program (AEAP) 501-686-2588 provides professional counseling and/or referral to community resources for a wide range of problems and situations including stress management, financial concerns, alcohol and other drug abuse, elder care, job/career issues, parenting, legal issues, marital/family problems and personal/emotional concerns. UAMS has pre-paid the entire cost of the EAP so that the resident/fellow is not charged for services provided within the EAP. For the EAP website click here.

Housestaff Mental Health Service [HMHS] 501-526-8286 is provided by the UAMS College of Medicine for residents. The HMHS assures timely access to a complete mental health program including diagnostic evaluation; medication management; counseling; and preventative programs. Services may be accessed through either the HMHS or the AEAP.

Employee Health/Student Preventive Health Services (EH/SPHS): The EH/SPHS provides the MMR vaccine, an annual TB skin test, an annual flu shot, and chemoprophylaxis medication if indicated following blood or body fluid exposures for residents. All residents must have a TB skin test and flu shot annually while in the program.

Orientation/Registration

All incoming residents/fellows are expected to attend Orientation/Registration scheduled mid-June. The three-day orientation includes many important sessions about policies, communication and teaching skills, cost containment, and quality assurance, infection control, physician impairment, risk management, medical documentation, electronic medical records and benefits. All residents/fellows must complete the registration process on day 3.

Resident Organization/Resident Council

All residents/fellows are automatically members of the Resident Organization. The leadership body is the Resident Council. The Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Resident Council are peer-elected and represent the Resident Organization on the Graduate Medical Education Committee.

Dress Code

All residents will look and dress professionally; white coats are required in the clinic. One white coat per resident is provided by the program. All clinical faculty, staff, and residents wear black scrubs. Reasonable apparel selection is expected of the residents to maintain a professional appearance and demeanor. The hospital does provide scrubs while on rotations. Residents must abide by full universal protection at all times when treating patients.

Licensure

Residents are required to obtain their Arkansas license, as well as obtain their NPI and DEA numbers prior to matriculation in the program.

Certification

At the successful completion of the GPR program, each resident will receive a certificate of completion.