Inaugural UAMS Symposium Advances Sustainable Development Goals in Arkansas Healthcare

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Family and Preventive Medicine hosted its inaugural research symposium, an initiative designed to advance key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event brought together family medicine faculty, residents, and students from across Arkansas, focusing on improving health outcomes, ensuring quality education, and fostering partnerships for sustainable development.

The symposium’s core objectives align directly with several SDGs, primarily SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By creating a platform for sharing research and celebrating scholarly work, UAMS is actively contributing to a more sustainable and equitable healthcare future for the state.

Fostering Collaboration and Quality Education (SDG 4 & SDG 17)

Statewide Partnership for Health

In a significant demonstration of SDG 17, the symposium successfully united all 11 family medicine residency programs in Arkansas. This collaborative network is designed to share knowledge and best practices, enabling innovations developed in one region to be implemented statewide. Dr. Shashank Kraleti, Chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, emphasized this goal, noting the potential for a clinic in Jonesboro to learn from and implement a blood pressure improvement project pioneered in Texarkana. This partnership model is crucial for strengthening health systems and achieving universal health coverage targets within SDG 3.

Enhancing Professional Medical Education

The event was structured to provide a high-quality educational experience, directly supporting SDG 4. It featured poster presentations and a plenary address by Dr. Warren Newton, President of the American Board of Family Medicine, on the future of the specialty. By simulating the format of an international academic conference, the symposium offered residents and students critical exposure to scholarly presentation and discourse, equipping them with the skills necessary for lifelong learning and contribution to medical science. This commitment to professional development is vital for building a competent and resilient health workforce.

Driving Innovation and Excellence in Support of Good Health (SDG 3 & SDG 9)

Research and Clinical Improvement Initiatives

The research presented focused on tangible improvements in clinical care, administrative processes, and medical education, reflecting the principles of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) as applied to the healthcare sector. Projects aimed to enhance the quality and safety of patient care, a cornerstone of SDG 3. Notably, winning presentations addressed key areas of health and education:

• Scholarly Activity Showcase: A project focused on creating a pathway for residents to develop research skills, reinforcing SDG 4.
• Peer Recovery Support: A study on improving recovery capital for individuals with substance use disorder within the justice system, addressing health inequalities and supporting vulnerable populations in line with SDG 3 and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Recognition of Excellence through CARE Awards

The department launched its first-ever Chair’s Awards for Recognition of Excellence (CARE) Awards to honor outstanding contributions across 22 categories. These awards celebrate individuals and teams whose work in clinical care, education, research, and service directly contributes to achieving sustainable development objectives. The recognition of excellence in areas such as Clinical Innovation, Educational Research, and Community Service incentivizes the behaviors and outcomes needed to advance public health and well-being.

Award Recipients

CARE Award Honorees

• Clinical Innovation: Stephen Foster, M.D.
• Collaborations and Teamwork: Jonathan M. Reid, M.A.
• Community/Institutional Service: Robin A. Howell, B.A.
• Educational Innovation: Amber Norris, M.D.
• Educational Research: Marcia Byers, Ph.D., RN
• Excellence in Research: Nikki A. Edge, Ph.D.
• GME Program Coordinator: Jennilee Foster
• GME Program Director: Lauren Gibson-Oliver, M.D., MBA
• Master Teacher: Scott M. Dickson, M.D.
• Mentorship/Sponsorship: Ronald Brimberry, M.D.
• Outstanding Adjunct Faculty: Sarah Franklin, M.D.
• Outstanding Medical Student: Rachel French, B.S., B.A.
• Outstanding Resident/Fellow: Sawyer J. Sparks, D.O.
• Quality and Safety: Shelly F. Brown
• Rising Star Faculty: Paige B. Beck, M.D., Ph.D.
• Service and Professionalism: Wayne W. Bryant Jr., M.D.
• UME Educator: Rajalakshmi Cheerla, M.D.
• Staff Excellence – Administration: Lauren A. Wagner, B.A.
• Staff Excellence – Clinical: Tara Johnson
• Staff Excellence – Education: Michelle Trulsrud
• Staff Excellence – Research: Cody A. Burnett, MPH
• Chair’s Distinguished Faculty Service: Daniel A. Knight, M.D.

Poster Competition Winners

1. Faculty: Shashank Kraleti, M.D. — Scholarly Activity Showcase: A Pathway for Residents to Develop Skills in Scholarship
2. Resident: Viridiana Saenz, M.D. — Sports Medicine in Residency Training: A Guide by Residents for Residents
3. Staff: Rubie Eubanks — Improvements in Recovery Capital within Justice-Involved Population with Substance Use Disorder: Use of Peer Recovery Support

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the UAMS Family Medicine Research Symposium addresses and connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its focus on advancing healthcare, education, innovation, and collaboration within the medical community in Arkansas.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The core theme is improving family medicine, clinical care, and addressing specific health issues like substance use disorder and blood pressure management.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The symposium is an educational event aimed at training medical residents and students, providing them with skills for their future careers, and promoting educational research and innovation.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The event highlights and encourages research and innovation within the healthcare sector, with awards for “Clinical Innovation” and “Excellence in Research.”
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: A key purpose of the symposium is to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among all 11 family medicine residency programs across Arkansas to achieve common goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the activities and goals described in the article, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. This is directly addressed by the staff poster competition winner, which focused on “Improvements in Recovery Capital within Justice-Involved Population with Substance Use Disorder: Use of Peer Recovery Support.”
   • Target 3.c: Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce. The article’s central theme is the development and training of the health workforce. It describes bringing “family medicine faculty, residents and students” together for a research symposium, celebrating “11 family medicine residency programs,” and aiming to “train future medical professionals.”

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.4: Substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The symposium was designed to provide practical experience, as stated by Dr. Kraleti: “The goal was to give them that experience and exposure so they’re ready to submit to meetings and conferences across the country.” This directly relates to developing relevant professional skills for medical careers. The poster “A Pathway for Residents to Develop Skills in Scholarship” also supports this target.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors…encouraging innovation. The event is an “inaugural research symposium” featuring “poster presentations from residents, students and faculty” on projects designed to “improve clinical care, processes, education, administration and leadership.” The CARE Awards for “Clinical Innovation,” “Educational Innovation,” and “Excellence in Research” explicitly promote this target.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.6: Enhance…regional…cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing. The article states a primary goal is to “bring all 11 family medicine residency programs across the state together to celebrate our research and scholarship work” and to “share efforts and knowledge.” The example of “somebody in Jonesboro could learn about the blood pressure improvement work happening in Texarkana” is a perfect illustration of this target in action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several indicators that could be used to measure progress toward the identified targets:

1. Indicators for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

   • Implied Indicator for Target 3.5: The poster on “Improvements in Recovery Capital within Justice-Involved Population with Substance Use Disorder” implies the use of metrics to measure the effectiveness and coverage of peer recovery support services, which aligns with Indicator 3.5.1 (Coverage of treatment interventions for substance use disorders).
   • Implied Indicator for Target 3.c: The article mentions “11 family medicine residency programs” and the participation of “faculty, residents and students.” The number of medical professionals being trained and retained within these programs serves as a proxy for Indicator 3.c.1 (Health worker density and distribution) at a state level.

2. Indicators for SDG 4 (Quality Education)

   • Implied Indicator for Target 4.4: The symposium’s goal is to equip residents with skills for scholarship. Progress could be measured by the number of residents who participate, present research, and subsequently “submit to meetings and conferences across the country.” This relates to Indicator 4.4.1 (Proportion of youth and adults with…vocational skills), where “scholarship” is a key vocational skill for medical researchers.

3. Indicators for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)

   • Implied Indicator for Target 9.5: The article highlights a “research symposium” and “poster presentations.” The number of research projects presented, the number of participants (faculty, residents, students) engaged in research, and the establishment of awards for research excellence are all implicit measures of research activity, aligning with the spirit of Indicator 9.5.2 (Researchers…per million inhabitants).

4. Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • Implied Indicator for Target 17.6: The event itself, which brings together “all 11 family medicine residency programs,” is an indicator of a regional cooperation program. The number of participating institutions and the specific examples of knowledge sharing (e.g., Jonesboro learning from Texarkana) can be used to measure the effectiveness of this partnership, reflecting Indicator 17.6.1 (Number of science and/or technology cooperation agreements and programmes).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.uams.edu