Alice L. Walton School of Medicine announced the next steps in its development, including a new name reflecting its founder’s commitment and plans for a state-of-the-art medical education facility to be built in Bentonville, Ark.
Founded in 2021 by philanthropist Alice Walton, the School of Medicine, (formerly named Whole Health School of Medicine and Health Sciences), will offer a four-year, medical degree-granting program that integrates conventional medicine with holistic principles and self-care practices. Taught by leading medical practitioners and scientific minds, the first-of-its-kind medical school will help students rise to the health challenges of the 21st century with a focus on mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health and will include an attached clinic for clinical training in these concepts. The School of Medicine seeks to be a national medical school with the goal of welcoming its inaugural class in 2025, pending programmatic and institutional accreditation.*
The Alice L. Walton School of Medicine Board of Directors held their first meeting and voted unanimously to approve the name change on June 29.
Walton’s deep commitment to building a holistic approach to healthcare includes the creation of Whole Health Institute and a partnership with Cleveland Clinic and the Washington Regional Medical System to create a transformative healthcare system. Reflective of this commitment and vision, the school will now bear its founder’s name: Alice L. Walton School of Medicine.
“We are honored to add Alice L. Walton to the School of Medicine’s name, highlighting our founder’s dedication to reimagining medical education,” said Walter Harris, chief operating officer for Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. “The school will remain grounded in whole health principles and teaching philosophies, poised to attract the best talent and create a pipeline for a new generation of whole health leaders.”