WE CARE-A-VAN Keeps Close to Home in NWA During Spring 2026 Tour

WE CARE-A-VAN Tours in the College of Education and Health Professions usually involve long, multi-day journeys to the far reaches of Arkansas.

This spring, however, the college stayed close to home in Northwest Arkansas, visiting with partners and collaborators in Springdale, Bentonville and Elkins.

Each semester, WE CARE-A-VAN tours help the college hear from a wide range of people, strengthen connections with partners and learn about the successes and challenges facing communities and organizations across Arkansas through visits with schools, clinics, stakeholders, alumni and friends.

"After visiting the far reaches of the state, it was great getting to explore education and health in Northwest Arkansas," said Dean Kate Mamiseishvili. "I'm so grateful to the partners and friends who welcomed us, and I can't wait to see what comes of these opportunities to learn and connect."

The tour kicked off with a visit to Arkansas Children's Northwest, where Rustin Morse, senior vice president and chief administrator, showed the group how recent expansions are helping the hospital care for children across the region. Members of the college toured the hospital and were invited to attend a daily safety briefing before departing for their next destination.

A short drive later, the caravan arrived at Heartland Whole Health Institute in Bentonville. A tour of Heartland's facility highlighted the organization's dedication to a whole-person approach to healthcare, even for its employees, through features like meditation rooms and unique office layouts.

Various members of Heartland's executive leadership sat down with the caravan to discuss creative solutions to challenging health care issues across the state. Heartland President Claude Pirtle said there were plenty of potential collaborations with the college as they work to transform traditional approaches to health care.

"Enhancing access, decreasing costs and having better outcomes," Pirtle said. "Everything we do is touching one, if not all, of those pillars." 

A quick walk through the woods brought the caravan to the doorstep of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM), which welcomed its first cohort of students in 2025.

The college connected with AWSOM faculty and administration in three breakout groups that explored the school's approach to research, academic education and interprofessional education. On a tour of AWSOM, program manager Rachel Lee outlined how they designed spaces throughout the building to maximize collaboration and learning for students.

Day one concluded at 21c Museum Hotel, where more than 100 alumni, partners and friends of the college came together for an evening reception.

"It isn't much good having anything exciting if you can't share it with somebody," Mamiseishvili said, quoting Winnie-the-Pooh. She added that the line reflects the college's enthusiasm for sharing its progress, opportunities and achievements, especially with its alumni who carry the work forward and partners who help amplify its impact.

The next morning, the college set out early for Springdale, where they met with leadership and staff at The Jones Center. 

Jones Center President and CEO Joe Lloyd walked the caravan through the ways The Jones Center supports not only Springdale but the entire region and outlined plans for growth in the coming years. 

Lloyd said they take pride in being a hub where everyone can learn, play and thrive together.

The final stop of the spring tour sent the college south to visit Elkins Primary School. Leaders from each of Elkins' four schools were on hand to greet members of the college and outline what it takes to maintain high school letter grades across the district.

Elkins curriculum coordinator Paula Wheeler spoke to the already existing collaborations with the college and how the robust partnership between the two helps both Elkins students and the college's teacher candidates excel.

"It's a partnership that genuinely benefits everyone involved, and we're proud to be a part of it," Wheeler said.

Since WE CARE-A-VAN tours began in the fall of 2023, the college has traveled almost 3,000 miles in pursuit of building partnerships across the state. Tours have made stops in every corner of the state and central Arkansas, including Pine Bluff, Portland, Monticello, El Dorado, Texarkana, Mena, De Queen, Hot Springs, Danville, Cherry Valley, Jonesboro and more.