UAMS Culinary Medicine

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UAMS Culinary Medicine

The official page for UAMS Culinary Medicine. UAMS began a culinary medicine elective Fall 2019 under course director Drs. Gina Drobena and Gloria Richard-Davis.

Culinary medicine is a new evidence-based field in medicine that blends the art of food and cooking with the science of medicine. Culinary medicine’s goal is to help people make good personal medical decisions about accessing and eating high-quality meals that help prevents and treats disease and restore well-being. Through a partnership with Culinary Medicine Specialist Board under the directorsh

ip of Dr. Tim Harlan, the program was launched. Dr. Harlan is a board-certified internist and chef who started the program in 2012. They established the first dedicated teaching kitchen to be implemented at a medical school. The curriculum is a flipped classroom model with online learning and quizzes followed by a case-based discussion of patients with chronic medical diseases. The basic course covers eight modules including food safety, knife skills, portion control, macronutrients and some micronutrients involved in the management of all the common chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease. Menus align with the module lesson to facilitate discussion about nutrient-dense food choices, caloric intake, and expenditure to support a healthy lifestyle. The University of Arkansas Pulaski Tech Culinary Institute provides a state of the art culinary cooking demonstration kitchen that allows 20+ students with four per station to work in groups and prepare meals. The pre-preparation and planning for meals are directed by Margaret Pauly, RD. Much of the needed food is donated by US Foods. A practical discipline, culinary medicine addresses the patient’s immediate need, who asks, ‘‘What do I eat for my condition?’’ Helping to educate students to educate patients that food is medicine and can restore health when chosen correctly. As the food is condition-specific, different clinical conditions require different meals, foods, and beverages. Culinary medicine attempts to improve the patient’s condition with what she or he regularly eats and drinks. Special attention is given to how food works in the body as well as to the sociocultural and pleasurable aspects of eating and cooking. The objective of culinary medicine is to empower the patient to care for herself or himself safely, effectively, and happily with food and beverage as a primary care technique. Community classes integrating service learning for students will help the community become healthier. Arkansas is 47thof 50 in health statistics. Almost 40% of residents are obese with corresponding co-morbidities of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, strokes.

04/28/2026

We don’t just cook in the teaching kitchen. In this snapshot, two participants from an IPE class go over a case study as the wait for their tacos to finish cooking.

04/27/2026

Local produce is back!

We’re so excited to share that local produce is officially back in our produce prescription bags. Thanks to our amazing partners at Growin’ Local and Barnhill Orchards, our bags are now filled with freshly harvested spinach, crisp lettuce, and juicy strawberries—all grown right here in Arkansas.

There’s something special about food that’s picked close to home. Not only does it taste better, but it also supports local farmers and brings peak-season nutrition straight to the plate. Think vibrant greens packed with vitamins and strawberries bursting with antioxidants.

Eating local isn’t just a trend, it’s a way to nourish our bodies and our community.

04/24/2026

Chicken tacos anyone?? 🌮

We made these delicious chicken tacos with corn relish yesterday in class and they were a hit!

04/23/2026

It’s all smiles right now in the teaching kitchen. Medical students on their OBGYN rotation are cooking up a storm today and it smells delicious 🤤

04/22/2026

Last night was one for the books with Arkansas Minority Health Commission as we welcomed community members into our teaching kitchen.

We whipped up a delicious, feel-good dinner featuring juicy turkey burgers and hearty sweet potato black bean burgers—packed with flavor AND nutrition.

From learning new cooking skills to sharing laughs around the table, it was a night all about connection, confidence in the kitchen, and making healthy eating approachable for everyone.

04/20/2026

It’s strawberry season! The sweetest time of year.

Juicy, vibrant, and packed with goodness—strawberries aren’t just delicious, they’re doing your body a favor with every bite.

❤️ Loaded with vitamin C
💪 Rich in antioxidants
🌱 Fiber source

Whether you’re tossing them into a fresh salad, blending them into smoothies, or enjoying them straight from the carton, strawberries are a simple way to add a burst of flavor and nutrition to your day.

Seasonal eating never tasted so good 🍓

04/17/2026

Head to our stories to vote in a friendly plating competition with our Spring II Elective Students!

04/16/2026

Good luck tonight at the Diamond Chef Competition, Alyssa! We’re already so proud of you and all the hard work you’ve put in.

Drop some love and send her some good vibes below ⬇️ ⬇️

04/15/2026

A student making some tasty homemade granola bars this evening in tonight’s elective class.

04/13/2026

🥝 Kiwis made a star appearance in this week’s produce prescription bags ✨

These little green gems may be small, but they’re packed with vitamin C (even more than an orange!), fiber for gut health, and antioxidants that support immunity.

Sweet, tangy, and seriously nourishing—kiwis are proof that good things can come in small packages.

04/10/2026

Thyme well spent ⏰🌿

We had such a fun evening with the psychiatry residents cooking up fresh, plant-forward spring dishes. The menu included:

🌸 Colorful Mediterranean Barley Salad
🌸 Lentil “meatballs” with a Crisp Tzatziki Sauce
🌸 Chicken Meatballs with Fresh zucchini noodles
🌸 Mouthwatering Berry Crumble

04/08/2026

A student displaying some excellent onion cutting technique this evening in the teaching kitchen 🧅

Address

629 Jack Stephens Drive
Little Rock, AR
72205

Website

https://culinarymedicine.uams.edu/

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Devon Davasher, LCSW
Bentonville 72712

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