Fast 15: Camron “Noah” Collins

Noah Collins is pursuing a career in medicine because he knows that will give him the ability to impact his community, help his family and support his mom. That’s also why he founded Restoring Hope Clinic in Fayetteville. 

Before his birth, Collins’ mother and siblings experienced housing instability. As a child, he grew up in Paragould amid the same instability and lack of access to medical and dental care. 

After high school, Collins joined the military, and, in basic training, went through tactical combat casualty care, which simulated providing medical care in battlefield environments. “That’s the moment I fell in love with the idea of becoming a physician,” he said. 

Following his dream, he enrolled at Arkansas State University, graduating with a biology degree in 2022, then entered the medical program at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Fayetteville. Now a fourth-year medical student, he plans to start his surgical residency in July 2027.

In medical school, he’s volunteered at 7hills Homeless Center and developed the idea for Restoring Hope Clinic. Its mission is to provide free treatment for acute medical, dental and mental health issues to the unhoused population. 

Becky Jones, CEO at 7hills, gave him space for the clinic, and he worked with Genesis Church and with a group of medical residents at Washington Regional to open the clinic in February 2025.

Collins hopes to integrate Restoring Hope into the internal medicine residency at Washington Regional, so residents can help staff it. “And to break ground on a bigger clinical space to create a seamless network for free medical and dental care in the area,” he said.

The highlight of his career so far has been the partnerships he’s seen as people have worked together to start and support Restoring Hope. 

“I’m a medical student, and I don’t have a lot of money,” he said. “So it’s been super inspiring how, through the series of people lending a helping hand to those in need, this has come so far.”

Collins has had numerous research papers published in several medical journals. He supports the Emergency Cold Weather Shelter at Genesis Church.

Growing up, Collins was a competitive skateboarder. In his downtime, he travels the world to surf at places like California and Portugal. He also enjoys swimming and exercising.