Grant boosts health-related tech program for high schoolers in NWA

A $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences will help the medical school's outreach efforts to NWA high schoolers.

Why it matters: "Arkansas students desperately need early and repeated exposure to STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] and data science to be prepared not only for future careers, but also to enable them to make data-driven decisions about lifestyle choices that affect their health," UAMS professor and AR Tech-DaSH program director Kevin Phelan said in a news release.

State of play: The five-year grant will expose ninth-graders to data science-focused activities and medical-related technologies like stethoscopes, ultrasound, infrared and CT imaging, UAMS spokesperson David Wise told Axios.

• The program will target underserved and underrepresented students and revolve around three health concerns prevalent in the region — cardiovascular, obesity/diabetes and immunology/cancer.
• All NWA school districts can apply, Wise said.

Zoom in: The program includes annual summer camps for up to 25 students. Campers are tasked with planning health-focused outreach events in their communities.

• The program will also bring virtual outreach sessions to rural classrooms across the state. Virtual training workshops will show teachers how to include imaging and data science in their classroom curriculum, according to UAMS.