Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine/Mercy Program
About This Program
Program Length
3 Years
First Year Positions
10 Positions
Program Starts Reviewing Applications
Application service release date
Avg Work Hours
60 Hours/Week
Program Setting
Community
Application Service
ERAS
Program Statistics
Types of Graduates
Resident Gender
Contact Information
Program Director
Christopher Thomas Fortson, MD
Mercy-Fort Smith
Primary Program Contact
Jake Myers, MHA
Mercy-Fort Smith
Survey Received: 7/21/2026
Program ID: 1200400001
Locations
Mercy-Fort Smith
Family Medicine Pgm
7301 Rogers Ave
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
7000 Chad Colley Blvd
Fort Smith, AR 72916
Legacy Health and Rehabilitation Center
3310 N 50th St
Fort Smith, AR 72904
Dermatology Center
7900 Dallas St
Fort Smith, AR 72803
Oak Manor Nursing Home
150 Morton Ave
Booneville, AR 72927
Paris Health and Rehabilitation Center
1414 S Elm St
Paris, AR 72855
Greenhurst Nursing Center
226 Skylar Dr
Charleston, AR 72933
Mercy Children's Hospital St Louis
615 S New Ballas Rd
St Louis, MO 63141-8221
Application Information
Applicant Interview Format
Virtual
Interviews Conducted Last Year
120 Interviews
Interviews/First Year Positions
12:1
Participates In
NRMP Main Match
--
Doesn't Participate In
- San Francisco Match
- Military Match (i.e., Joint Service Graduate Medical Education Selection Board, Military Selection Board)
- SAU/AU Match (i.e., Urology Match)
- None
Open House
U.S. MD Applicants
Must Have Passed USMLE Step 1
Yes
Must Have Passed USMLE Step 2 CK
Yes
IMG Applicants
Must Have Passed USMLE Step 1
Yes
Must Have Passed USMLE Step 2 CK
Yes
DO Applicants
Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 1
Yes
Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 2
Yes
Requires the USMLE Step 1 and/or Step 2 CK
Yes
Must Have USMLE Passed Step 1
No
Must Have USMLE Passed Step 2 CK
No
Specialty-specific standardized letter requirements
No
Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Deans letter)
Minimum
--
Maximum
--
Required Letter Writers
- Letter(s) from someone within the specialty (e.g., faculty, attending)
Requires Previous GME
No
Required Supplemental Information
No
Osteopathic Recognition
No
Medical School Graduation Timeline
No cap on the number of years.
Gap Experience Requirement
Data not provided by program
Resident / Fellow Characteristics
Three year averages. Medical school type does not include graduates of Canadian schools.
Types of Graduates
Resident Gender
Program Faculty
Faculty/Resident Ratio
0.6:1
Program Faculty
18
Female Faculty
31.2%
Faculty Distribution
Work Environment
Program Start Dates
July 1
Avg Hours/Week on Duty (During First Year)
60 Hours
Maximum Consecutive Hours on Duty (During First Year)
24 Hours
Avg Number of 24 Hour Off Duty Periods Per Week (During First Year)
2.00
Program Allows Moonlighting (Beyond PGY-1)
Yes
Night Float System
Yes
Most Taxing Schedule & Frequency Per Year
Beeper or Home Call (Weeks / Year)
Year 1 - Every eleventh night or more for 1 week(s)
0
Year 2 - Every eleventh night or more for 1 week(s)
0
Year 3 - Every eleventh night or more for 1 week(s)
--
NA = Not Applicable
NGO = Negotiable
OTH = Other
Visa Status
This program will consider an appropriately qualified applicant with the following visa or visa status. Contact the program for additional information.
J-1 visa sponsorship through ECFMG
Yes
H-1B visa
No
F-1 visa (OPT 1st year)
No
Program Size
30
Current Residents
PGY-1 Position Type(s) Offered:
Categorical positions
PGY-2 Positions Not Offered
Key Dates & Timelines
2026 - 2027
Program Starts Reviewing Applications
Application service release date
Average PGY-1 Educational Environment
Structured Didactic Activities
5 Hours
Hospital Outpatient
42%
Non-Hospital Ambulatory Care
29%
Employment Policies & Benefits
Free parking
On-call meal allowance
iPads, tablets, etc., or technology allowance
Educational Benefits
Curriculum to develop health systems leadership skills (e.g., QI project leadership, community/organizational advocacy)
Yes
Resident/fellow retreats
Yes
Off-campus electives
Yes
Hospice/home care experience
Yes
Research rotation
Required (2 wks)
Integrative medicine curriculum
No
Formal program to foster interprofessional teamwork
No
Instruction in medical Spanish or other non-English language
No
Alternative/complementary medicine curriculum
No
Economics of health care systems curriculum
No
Debt management/financial counseling
No
Academic support for USMLE Step 3 and/or COMLEX-USA Level 3 preparation
No
International experience/global health
No
MPH, MBA, PhD or other advanced degree training
No
Tracks & Educational Features
Primary care track
Yes
Offers additional training or educational experience beyond accredited length
Yes
Hospitalist track
No
Research track/non-accredited fellowship track
No
Rural track
No
Women's health track
No
Academic or clinician educator track
No
Evaluations
Aggregate resident Milestone achievements
No
Graduates board certification pass rates
No
Performance-based assessment scores (e.g. OSCE, patient or computer simulations)
Yes
Patient surveys
Yes
Portfolio system
No
Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)
Yes
Medical Insurance Coverage
- Major medical for residents
- Major medical for dependents
- Major medical for domestic partners
- Outpatient mental health
- Inpatient mental health
- Dental insurance
- Group life insurance
Salary Compensation
$59K-$64K
Year 1 through Year 3
Year 1
$59,277
Year 2
$61,711
Year 3
$64,168
Salary paid by a non-profit institution.
Vacation & Sick Days
Residents receive 15 Vacation Days and 5 Sick Days annually to support work-life balance and personal well-being.
Maximum # of paid days
30 days
Maximum # of unpaid days
60 days