Alice L. Walton School of Medicine Announces Board of Directors and Welcomes New Board Chair

Today, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) celebrated its grand opening on the Crystal Bridges Campus. The occasion featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks from Founder Alice Walton, Founding Dean and CEO Sharmila Makhija, MD, MBA, and Wesley Walls, AIA, Design Principal with Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects. 

Walton founded AWSOM in 2021 to improve health and well-being in the region through a new pipeline of physicians educated in whole health principles. On July 14, the School’s inaugural class of 48 medical students began their first year. 

“I founded AWSOM with a vision for a new kind of medical school – one that focuses on the whole person by integrating physical, mental, emotional, and social health to promote well-being,” said Walton. “That vision is now a reality on the Crystal Bridges Campus, where students and visitors alike can experience a truly unique environment that blends stunning architecture, art, and nature to inspire both learning and wellness.” 

“The grand opening we celebrate today represents the culmination of years of dedicated effort by our team and valued community partners,” said Dean Makhija. “Through the training of future physicians in a comprehensive, whole-person approach to health, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine is poised to make a significant and enduring contribution to medical education and health care across Arkansas, the Heartland, and beyond.” 

More than 300 guests attended the grand opening, including educational partners, clinical partners, and the AWSOM Board of Directors. Following the ceremony, guests embarked on guided tours of AWSOM’s state-of-the-art medical education facility, designed by Arkansas-based architectural firm Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects with landscape and rooftop park design by NYC-based design studio OSD: Office of Strategy + Design. Designed to support the well-being of students and employees, the building features four stories and includes educational spaces such as a library, Clinical Skills Center, and Simulation Center, recreational and wellness areas, and administrative offices. 

“We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, and to witness the campus coming to life as students and faculty begin their academic journey at the intersection of art, architecture, nature, and wellness,” said Walls. “It was an honor to bring Alice’s vision to reality, and we’re excited to see the results of its transformative educational mission impact the well-being of all Arkansans.” 

AWSOM Open to the Public on November 3  

Beginning November 3, AWSOM will open its public spaces, which include the lobby and art gallery on the first floor and the café located on the second floor. In the outdoor public spaces, guests will be able to unwind by the serene pond and Healing Garden, discover the 2-acre Rooftop Park, which showcases native plant life and offers scenic views of the campus. These thoughtfully designed areas promote community interaction and support overall well-being.  

The public spaces will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the AWSOM café will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, offering made-to-order coffee, tea, and smoothies as well as grab-and-go lunch items. 

About Alice L. Walton School of Medicine  

Founded in 2021, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) is a nonprofit, four-year MD program enhancing traditional medical education with the arts, humanities, and whole health principles. The School’s culture embraces self-care to empower students to care for their own well-being as well as their patients’. The School’s state-of-the-art medical education facility is on the Crystal Bridges Campus, home to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Heartland Whole Health Institute. The School has been granted preliminary accreditation status by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. 

About Crystal Bridges Campus 

Crystal Bridges Campus in Bentonville, Arkansas features 134 acres dedicated to art and wellness. It is home to three landmark institutions designed by acclaimed architecture firms: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Safdie Architects), Heartland Whole Health Institute (Marlon Blackwell Architects), and Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects).  

Envisioned by founder and philanthropist Alice Walton, the campus unites art, architecture, nature, education, and wellness to create transformative experiences that foster learning and enhance health and well-being. More than five miles of trails connect the iconic buildings, featuring art installations both inside and outside. The campus terrain varies from Ozark forest to display gardens, and includes streams, ponds, and Crystal Springs. In 2024, the campus received Arboretum accreditation.  

About Alice L. Walton School of Medicine

Founded in 2021, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) is a nonprofit, four-year MD program that will enhance traditional medical education with the arts, humanities, and whole health principles. The School’s culture embraces self-care to empower students to care for their own well-being as well as their patients’. The School’s state-of-the-art medical education facility is under construction in Bentonville, Arkansas on the Crystal Bridges campus, home to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Heartland Whole Health Institute. The School has been granted preliminary accreditation status by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.