Huda Sharaf, M.D.
Staff Q & A
Hometown: Born in North Little Rock, AR and raised in Batesville, AR
Title: Medical Director of Pat Walker Health Center
Years of Service (UofA): 12
Education both undergrad and grad schools if you have graduate degree: BS in Chemistry/UA Fayetteville 1993, MD/UAMS 1997, Internal Medicine Residency/Washington University in STL completed in 2000
How long have you been at the University of Arkansas in Student Affairs? What have you enjoyed most about your time here?
12 yrs. The U of A is my alma mater and I enjoy being able to give back to the University community. Providing comprehensive quality care for my patients in both treatment and prevention is my highest priority. I also aim to serve as an effective leader/representative /advocate for our provider group/medical team in leading by example. I am very fortunate to work with this group of high-quality physicians and nurse practitioners. I have also been able to foster strong professional relationships with our NWA community physicians/specialists to further ensure prompt/comprehensive care for our University patients. I feel privileged to be involved in mentoring University students interested in pursuing careers in medicine and serve on the Pre-Med Advisory Committee coaching pre-med students on their medical school applications/interviews.
Tell us a little about your role in Student Affairs. What brings you joy in this role?
I enjoy being a part of Student Affairs in achieving higher retention of our students through timely/accessible medical care and education in healthy living. I’m able to continue my clinical care of patients but also contribute to the leadership of our department. I enjoy being involved in making positive changes and improvements in our area. I also can collaborate with a variety of different departments on campus through University committee involvements and medical lecture/panel invites. My position allows me to have various roles in the medical care and education of our campus.
We have also developed a great working relationship with our local/state health departments and serve a vital role in reporting campus affected communicable diseases while helping facilitate connections/communication with other departments on campus.
What is the greatest misconception people have about Student Affairs College Health Centers and how do you break that?
The misconception of college health is that we only take care of Mono and STDs……this could not be further from the truth. College health is a field of medicine that deals with the medical care and health behaviors of college/university students, faculty and staff. Prior to starting my medical career in college health, I worked in hospital emergency rooms, hospitals and private clinics and can safely say, I’ve seen more challenging, intriguing cases in college health. We not only treat a wide range of ages but also must be familiar with international medicine in the setting of our global community. College health also has a strong emphasis on education…….teaching our patients about preventative care and assisting them in navigating the healthcare system. In diagnosing, treating and educating our students, we can support them in reaching/achieving their academic and career goals while also contributing to a healthier lifestyle.
What do you like to do with your time outside of the University?
I love to spend time with my family. Having a healthy work/life balance is essential to me maintaining healthy physical and mental health. I want to be there for my children and set an example for my daughter – she can have a career and a family….it’s possible. We need more women in STEM careers!
What do you hope students and colleagues will remember about your interactions?
I hope that I impact their lives in a positive way and help them reach their personal goals. I enjoy seeing my patients achieve their milestones and am so proud to be a part of that.
Is there anything else you would like to add or let our readers know?
I have a twin sister who is also a physician practicing in Texas. She is also an alumnus from the U of A. We are frequently mistaken for each other – WARNING: we look a lot alike and frequently visit each other 😊.