University of the Ozarks alumna Dr. Hailey Hardgrave '18 of Little Rock, Ark., will be presented with the University's 2026 Young Alumni Achievement Award, given to an alumnus under the age of 35 who has gained recognition in his or her chosen profession.

A native of Johnson County, Hardgrave earned a degree in biology and minor in chemistry with Summa Cum Laude honors at Ozarks. She was named the University's 2018 Hurie Award recipient, given to the outstanding member of the senior class as voted on by the faculty.

Hardgrave went on to graduate with her M.D from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2022 and is currently finishing the final year of her general surgery residency at UAMS.

Hardgrave will continue her training with a two-year abdominal transplant and hepatobiliary surgery fellowship at Vanderbilt University starting in August 2027.

She plans to return to Arkansas at the conclusion of her training to increase access to liver and kidney transplantation to patients of her home state.

She and her husband, Christian, have a daughter, Norah.

Topics: Alumni