Arvest Foundation donates to ACHE Adopt A Scholar program

The Arvest Foundation is the latest partner in the Adopt A Scholar program at the Fort Smith-based Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE). ACHE manages the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM), which recently placed 100% of its graduates in residency programs nationwide.

The $100,000 donation from the Arvest Foundation to the scholarship program was announced Monday (March 30) during an event at the ARCOM. The program was created to support incoming ARCOM medical students whose goals align with ACHE’s mission to improve access to quality healthcare, according to ACHE.

“The Adopt A Scholar program creates meaningful connections between our students and the organizations that believe in their future,” ACHE President and CEO Kyle Parker said in a statement. “We are grateful to Arvest Foundation for investing in the next generation of physicians and supporting our mission to improve access to quality healthcare across the region.”

Each scholarship is made possible through a $100,000 donation, pledged over four years. The program was established to provide financial and personal support to future physicians. Donors have the opportunity to “adopt” a medical student by funding a recruitment scholarship that helps reduce the financial burden of medical education.

“As a community-focused bank, Arvest is committed to improving the quality of life in the communities we serve, and supporting the next generation of healthcare leaders is a key part of that mission,” said Mike Jacimore, president of Arvest Bank – Fort Smith Region. “On behalf of the Arvest Foundation, we’re proud to present these grants to ACHE to help ease the financial burden for these talented individuals as they complete their training.”

The scholarship is need-based and is intended for a student from the ACHE service area, which includes Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Eligibility includes students who were born in, attended school, or earned an undergraduate degree in one of these states.

The program was announced in January 2025 with First National Bank of Fort Smith being the first program partner.

RESIDENCY MATCHING
ARCOM on March 20 announced that 100% of its students successfully placed into residency programs across the nation. Among the graduating class, 67% secured residencies in primary care specialties, which meets at goal of the college to meet the demand for community physicians.

ARCOM students also matched at respected residency programs across the country, including Brown University, continuing the college’s tradition of preparing graduates for success in highly competitive training programs.

ARCOM students from the Class of 2026 matched into a wide range of specialties, included anesthesiology, family medicine, internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, emergency medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, psychiatry, neurology, pathology, radiology, neuro-musculoskeletal medicine, and general surgery.

“Match Day is a meaningful milestone that reflects the commitment and perseverance our students have shown throughout medical school,” said Teressa Brown, ACHE senior vice president, chief academic officer and provost. “Their success in securing residency positions across the country speaks to the strength of ARCOM’s academic preparation and board exam performance, as well as the dedication of our faculty and staff who support them every step of the way. We are incredibly proud of the impact these future physicians will make in the communities they serve.”

ACHE was formed when Fort Smith-based Degen Foundation used part of $70 million from the sale of Sparks Health System in November 2009 to what was then Naples, Fla.-based Health Management Associates to build the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine at Chaffee Crossing. The $32.4 million college and its 103,000 square feet is home to 600 medical students.

ACHE includes five programs: the ARCOM, School of Physical Therapy (ACHE PT), School of Occupational Therapy (ACHE OT), Master of Science in Biomedicine (MSB), and Master of Public Health (MPH). Also part of ACHE is the Research Institute Health & Wellness Center (RIHWC), a 317,000-square-foot facility that includes a biomedical research lab.