Mercy Opens Primary Care Clinic at Alice L. Walton School of Medicine

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Mercy Opens Primary Care Clinic at Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, Marking the Next Generation of Whole Health Care

by Mercy's Ashley Siwiec

Key Points

Mercy is opening a new primary care clinic at Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) for patients 18 and older.
The clinic is located at 1001 NE J St. at the main entrance to AWSOM, which is connected to walking and biking trails on the Crystal Bridges Campus.
Hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, except Wednesday when it is open 8 a.m. to noon.

ROGERS, Ark. (Nov. 2, 2026) – It’s a new day for primary care in Bentonville, Arkansas. Mercy held a ribbon cutting and blessing of its new clinic, at Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) on the Crystal Bridges Campus, marking another step in the broader effort to advance whole-person health in the region. The clinic is slated to open Nov. 23.

Designed with wellness and the whole person in mind, the Mercy Primary Care Clinic at AWSOM will offer compassionate, preventive care to patients 18 and older including:

Annual wellness exams
Management of ongoing conditions
Diagnosis and treatment of minor illnesses and injuries
Labs
Immunizations

Dr. Stephanie Sargent, who brings a strong background in family medicine and behavioral health, is joining the Mercy team as the clinic’s first provider. Dr. Sargent’s academic experience also positions her to work with AWSOM medical students who are earning their clinical hours in the Mercy clinic.

Dr. Stephanie Sargent receives the Mercy cross to be displayed at the clinic, which will open its doors on Nov. 23.

“Dr. Sargent brings a skilled and unique combination of family medicine, behavioral health expertise and a passion for mentoring that makes her an outstanding fit for this new clinic,” said Rhett Stover, president of Mercy Northwest Arkansas Communities. “We’re excited for patients and students to benefit from her expertise, compassion and leadership.”

The clinic will provide a care model that supports adults at every stage of life.

“At the heart of this clinic is a commitment to providing high-quality primary care that helps patients stay healthy, manage chronic conditions and access the care they need,” said Dr. Sonal Bhakta, chief medical officer for Mercy Northwest Arkansas. “Patients can feel confident they will receive compassionate, evidence-based care from experienced Mercy providers who take the time to understand the whole person. Through our partnership with Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, we're also creating an environment where future physicians can learn alongside dedicated caregivers while helping us advance the health of our community.”

Mercy and AWSOM leaders cut the ribbon on Mercy Primary Clinic at Alice L. Walton School of Medicine.

“The opening of Mercy Primary Care Clinic at AWSOM represents an exciting step in bringing the vision for whole-person care to life,” said Dr. Sharmila Makhija, MBA, founding dean, CEO, and CAO of AWSOM. “Having patient care and medical education under one roof creates a meaningful connection between how we teach medicine and how it is practiced. Our shared commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care strengthens the health and well-being of our community.”

Just a few minutes from downtown Bentonville, the clinic is located at 1001 NE J St. at the main entrance to AWSOM, which is connected to walking and biking trails on the Crystal Bridges Campus. Parking spots reserved for patients are available near the front entrance of the clinic. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, except Wednesday when it is open 8 a.m. to noon.

The clinic, set to open Nov. 23, is currently scheduling appointments. To book your appointment, please call 479-802-5680 or visit the clinic website on mercy.net for more information.

Building a Whole Health Partnership

Recently, Mercy and Alice L. Walton Foundation broke ground on AWSOM Whole Health Campus, located a mile east of Alice L. Walton School of Medicine and planned to open in 2029. As part of the long-term agreement between the Foundation and Mercy, the 120+-acre campus dedicated to specialty care services will include extensive cardiac care, in partnership with Cleveland Clinic, as well as cancer, orthopedics and gastroenterology, creating a multi-state destination.

“With our new primary care clinic at Alice L. Walton School of Medicine and our partnership with the Alice L. Walton Foundation to develop AWSOM Whole Health Campus, Mercy is at the forefront of offering whole health care to residents of Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding region,” Stover said

Mercy, one of the 15 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation’s largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost. Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state healthcare system including 55 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 6,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 caregivers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In fiscal year 2025 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid.

Mercy Opens Primary Care Clinic at Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, Marking the Next Generation of Whole Health Care