Alice L. Walton School of Medicine earns preliminary accreditation

The Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) in Bentonville has secured preliminary accreditation status by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the school announced Tuesday (Oct. 29). This milestone allows the school to recruit students to its new campus.

After visiting the site in June, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education determined that AWSOM met the 12 standards set by the accrediting body, including medical school leadership, planning, finances, curriculum, faculty, facilities, recruitment and student support. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and serves as the accrediting body for allopathic medical schools in the United States.

The school’s inaugural class will comprise 48 students, and classes for its four-year MD program will begin in July 2025. Applications will open by early November. The release shows AWSOM will waive tuition for its first five cohorts of students “to ensure that this transformative educational experience is accessible to a wide range of applicants.”

“This is an important time for the school, as preliminary accreditation status means we can now accept applications from prospective medical students, admit our first class and begin instruction,” said Sharmila Makhija, founding dean and CEO. “Accreditation ensures medical schools are held to the highest standards of education and operations, and achieving this designation is a result of years of hard work by our dedicated team and partners. We are ready to welcome our inaugural class of students with a reimagined medical school experience.”

Philanthropist Alice Walton founded the school in 2021. Based on her own health care experiences, she recognized the need for a whole-person approach. AWSOM uses a holistic approach to evaluating experiences, personal attributes and academic preparation in selecting applicants who most strongly align with the school’s mission, vision and values.

“I’m so proud of the work the entire team at AWSOM has accomplished to reach preliminary accreditation status,” Walton said. “The School of Medicine will play a pivotal role in educating the next generation of physicians, equipping them to care for the whole person and making a lasting impact on health care in the heartland and beyond.”

The 154,000-square-foot School of Medicine building, adjacent to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, is expected to “foster a culture of student well-being, empowering future physicians to care for their patients and themselves,” the release shows. “It features four stories and will include learning halls, a public gallery, library, clinical teaching spaces, administrative offices, a student lounge, covered bicycle parking, and recreation and wellness areas.”

The building is expected to be completed in summer 2025. Crossland Construction Inc. is the general contractor. Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects and New York-based Office of Strategy + Design are the designers. The design team also designed the campus housing complex on 11 acres adjacent to the school. The 300-unit complex is expected to be completed in 2026.

For medical schools, accreditation through the Liaison Committee on Medical Education is required to participate in federal programs and grants. Graduates of the accredited programs can enter into residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and students and graduates of programs accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education can take the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination to receive a license from state medical licensing boards.

“Securing preliminary accreditation is a significant achievement for the school,” said Lloyd Minor, chair of the AWSOM Board of Directors, dean of Stanford School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs at Stanford University. “With its focus on whole-person care and equitable access, AWSOM is one step closer to making a lasting impact on the future of medicine, opening new possibilities for both students and the communities they will serve.”