Joseph W. "Wes" Watkins IV, M.D. Emergency Medicine Physician

Clinical Biography

Dr. Wes Watkins is a native Arkansan, raised on a farm in the hills of Northwest Arkansas.  He received his undergraduate education at Duke University.  Following a period of international travel and a career as an outdoor photographer, he attended medical school at UAMS.  During that time he was drawn to the variety, acuity and hustle of the Emergency Department and pursued his residency training in St. Louis at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital.  In 2015, he happily returned to UAMS as full-time faculty.

During residency, Wes developed particular interests in critical care medicine and toxicology. He has presented original research at the Society for Critical Care Medicine, was a core member and presenter in the Critical Care Scholar Track and was active in the ED Sepsis Committee. He also received the “Best Platform Presentation” award at the American College of Medical Toxicology National Scientific Meeting for a presentation on his work with physostigmine.  Another passion of his is resident education and simulation, including work as a case designer for EMRA’s SimWars.

Wes practices and teaches with a focus on EBM (evidence-based medicine) and has contributed to theNNT.com and EverydayEBM.  In his spare time, he also enjoys hiking, photography and spending time with his beautiful family.

After living a great deal of his adult life outside of Arkansas, Wes relishes the opportunity to return and serve the people and the state that were so instrumental in both his personal and professional development.