Dr. Payal Gandhi Joins UAMS Neighborhood Clinic on Rahling Road

Payal Gandhi, M.D., joins UAMS Health Neighborhood Clinic on Rahling Road

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is expanding its primary care presence in West Little Rock with the addition of Payal Gandhi, M.D., to the Neighborhood Clinic on Rahling Road. According to a report from news.uams.edu, Dr. Gandhi brings a dual specialization in family medicine and obesity medicine to the clinic, focusing on comprehensive patient care and the long-term management of obesity. Her arrival marks a targeted effort to integrate specialized metabolic health management into the local neighborhood clinic model.

Before joining the UAMS team, she practiced at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton. Her professional background also includes serving as a board member for the AdvantagePoint Health Alliance clinically integrated networks, which operates in partnership with Lifepoint Health.

The addition of a physician with specific expertise in obesity medicine addresses a growing clinical need in primary care settings. While many general practitioners manage weight-related issues, the formal board certification in obesity medicine allows for a more nuanced approach to metabolic health, which is often a precursor to chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

A diverse medical background and academic record

Dr. Gandhi’s path to the UAMS clinical team involves an international medical education followed by specialized training within the Arkansas healthcare system. She earned her medical degree from the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences Deemed University in India. Following her initial training, she completed a residency and earned board certification in general surgery at the Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College in India in 2015.

Returning to Arkansas for advanced training, she completed her residency at the UAMS Little Rock Family Medicine Residency program in 2023. During her time in that program, she was recognized with the best resident teacher award, a distinction that highlights her engagement with medical education. This combination of surgical background and family medicine residency provides a broad clinical foundation for her current role in outpatient care.

The clinic itself is situated in the Chenal area of West Little Rock. As noted by UAMS Health, the Rahling Road location is designed to provide the high-quality services associated with the larger UAMS Health system within a more convenient, neighborhood-oriented setting. This model aims to make complex condition management and routine preventive care more accessible to local residents.

Expanding access to specialized and pediatric care

The UAMS Neighborhood Clinic on Rahling Road operates as part of a larger network of primary care services in Central Arkansas. This network includes three neighborhood clinics, a dental clinic, a longevity clinic, and 10 family medical centers spread across the state. These facilities serve a wide demographic, treating both adults and children through services such as immunizations, behavioral health support, and chronic condition management.

Exterior of Rahling road clinic — Photo: uamshealth.com

For families with young children, the clinic utilizes the HealthySteps program. According to UAMS Health, HealthySteps is a pediatric primary care initiative that integrates early childhood development specialists into the medical team. The program is designed to support parents during well-child visits by providing resource connections and addressing developmental concerns during the critical early years of a child’s life.

The clinic’s service offerings are summarized below:

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Preventive Care: Annual exams, routine checkups, and immunizations.
Specialized Management: Chronic condition management and obesity medicine.
Pediatric Support: HealthySteps program for babies and toddlers.
Urgent Care: Access to same-day and urgent care visits.
Vaccinations: COVID-19 vaccinations for eligible residents over age 11.

UAMS serves as the state’s only health sciences university and its largest public employer, with approximately 12,000 employees. The broader UAMS Health system includes the state’s only adult Level 1 trauma center and various specialized institutes, such as the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging. By placing specialized providers like Dr. Gandhi in neighborhood clinics, the system attempts to bridge the gap between community-based primary care and high-acuity academic medicine.

Dr. Gandhi is currently accepting new patients at the clinic located at 1811 Rahling Road, One Rahling Centre, Suite 120, in Little Rock. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 501-214-2360.

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