10/02/2026
Unity Health is pleased to announce that it has been selected to receive an additional $300,926.15 through the Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program, bringing the total amount awarded to Unity Health to $2,206,422! Jamie Higgins, executive director of the Unity Health Foundation, accepted the award Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Governor's Mansion.
This latest round of funding was awarded through the RISE AR pillar, which focuses on strengthening Arkansas’ rural healthcare workforce through recruitment, retention and professional development.
Unity Health received funding for two important workforce initiatives:
Unity Health Gastroenterology Workforce and Advanced GI Access Initiative
This project will support one year of gastroenterology fellowship training for a recruited physician who, upon completion of training, will return to Unity Health and fulfill a minimum five-year service commitment. The initiative will increase Unity Health’s gastroenterology workforce from one physician to two, helping expand access to specialized digestive healthcare for patients throughout our region.
Unity Health SKILL-UP Workforce Development Project
This initiative will help build a stronger and more sustainable rural healthcare workforce by investing in current Unity Health employees and helping them advance into high-need clinical careers. Through education, credentialing and career-development opportunities, SKILL-UP will create new pathways for employees to grow professionally while strengthening the healthcare workforce needed to serve our communities.
These investments represent another important step toward ensuring patients throughout our region have access to the skilled healthcare professionals and specialized services they need close to home.
We are grateful for this investment in rural healthcare and excited about the opportunities it will create for our employees, our patients and the communities Unity Health is honored to serve.
