What happens when a Walmart heiress, a white coat, and holistic medicine walk into a bar? You get a groundbreaking medical school initiative that’s shaking up the healthcare landscape.
At a Glance
- Alice Walton’s new medical school embraces holistic care.
- The inaugural class of 48 students has begun their journey.
- The curriculum combines science, humanities, and whole health.
- AWSOM aims to influence national medical education standards.
A New Era in Medical Education
Alice L. Walton, an heiress to the Walmart fortune, has launched the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) with a mission to revolutionize medical education. Located in Bentonville, Arkansas, AWSOM aims to blend traditional medical training with holistic care principles. This approach is inspired by Walton’s personal experiences and her vision for a healthcare system that treats the whole person—not just their symptoms. By integrating arts, humanities, and whole health, AWSOM is setting a new standard in training empathetic and well-rounded physicians.
The new 154,000-sf Alice L. Walton School of Medicine building has opened in Bentonville, AR. Designed by Polk Stanley Wilcox with OSD, it sits on the 134-acre Crystal Bridges Campus near the museum. 📸 Timothy Hursley
More photos & details on Archinect https://t.co/qg7n23LUS4 pic.twitter.com/huhlBLNNGu
— Archinect (@archinect) July 18, 2025
The school’s founding aligns with a growing trend in the medical education sector to emphasize holistic care. Research supports that addressing mental, social, emotional, and physical needs leads to better patient outcomes and quality of life. The health system’s challenges, such as administrative burdens and workforce shortages, highlight the necessity for physicians trained in comprehensive care approaches. AWSOM is a response to these needs, aiming to produce doctors capable of delivering holistic, patient-centered care.
Watch: Alice Walton School of Medicine completes construction, kicks off inaugural class
The Inaugural Class: A New Generation of Healers
In the summer of 2025, AWSOM welcomed its first class of 48 students with a prestigious white coat ceremony. This event symbolizes their formal entry into the medical profession, marking the start of a transformative educational journey. The curriculum is designed to balance rigorous scientific training with humanities, fostering skills essential for holistic care. This mix aims to cultivate physicians who not only understand the science of medicine but also the art of patient care, empathy, and communication.
Preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) allows AWSOM to operate as a fully recognized medical school, granting MD degrees. This accreditation is a testament to the school’s commitment to maintaining high educational standards while pioneering a new approach to medical training. Partnerships with national and regional clinical sites ensure students receive diverse, hands-on clinical experiences that integrate community health needs with their education.
From Vision to Reality: Leadership and Impact
Dean Sharmila Makhija, the founding dean and CEO, is leading AWSOM with a clear vision: to cultivate clinically competent and empathetic physicians. Alice Walton emphasizes the importance of a renewed approach to medicine, one that considers the whole patient. The school’s holistic philosophy is supported by academic research, which shows that cross-disciplinary healthcare teams can enhance patient recovery and alleviate fears beyond mere symptom management.
In the short term, AWSOM is creating a new pipeline of physicians trained in holistic care. This initiative enhances educational opportunities in Arkansas and attracts talent to the region. Long-term, the school could influence national medical education standards by demonstrating the efficacy of integrating humanities and whole health principles. By producing empathetic, well-rounded physicians, AWSOM aims to improve patient outcomes and contribute to alleviating healthcare workforce shortages.
