3 Join Alice Walton’s School of Medicine

From left to right: Amy Wenger, Jonathan Brown and Alexia Riggs (Photos provided by the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine)

The Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in Bentonville announced hires in three key positions:

Amy Wenger was hired as vice president of finance and administration. She previously served as vice chancellor for the Northwest Regional Campus at UAMS. With a health care career that spans over two decades in clinical administration, Wenger also managed specialty departments such as women and infant health, surgical specialties, nursing and psychiatry. She earned her bachelor’s in education in community health at the University of Arkansas and her master’s in health services administration at University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Jonathan Brown was hired as professor of medical microbiology and immunology. Before joining the joining the school, he taught microbiology and immunology for almost a decade, serving as an associate professor of immunology and microbiology at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. He obtained his bachelor’s in biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of Tennessee and earned his Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Louisville in Kentucky.

Alexia Riggs was hired as senior director of library and information services. Before joining the school, Riggs held leadership positions at several academic libraries, and served most recently as director of library at the A. Frank Smith Jr. Library Center at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Howard Payne University, her master’s in library science at the University of North Texas, and her doctor of education in higher education at Texas A&M University.

‍“I look forward to working alongside these talented professionals who add to our strong team and will help build the foundation for the School’s operational plans, new academic medical library, and our integrated curriculum,” Dr. Sharmila Makhija, the school’s founding dean and CEO, said in a statement. “Their deep academic experience and dedication to creating meaningful change will help shape the future of medical education and health care delivery in the Heartland and beyond.”

The nonprofit, four-year school has been in development since 2021. It aims to enhance traditional medical education with the arts, humanities, and whole health principles.

The school will share a campus with the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Heartland Whole Health Institute.