CoxHealth family doctor returns to Arkansas roots at new Harrison clinic

From the moment Dr. Evan Branscum could talk, he’s been yelling “Woo Pig Sooie” to cheer on the Arkansas Razorbacks. He’s excited to return to his roots to practice family medicine at CoxHealth’s new primary care clinic in Harrison, Ark., which opens Aug.10.

Dr. Branscum grew up in north central Arkansas in Marshall, a small town nestled in the Ozark Mountains in Searcy County.

“My family raised beef cattle and ran a sawmill, so I would spend my summers split between the farm and the mill,” he says. “If I wasn’t working, I was playing sports with my four brothers. Like many people who grow up in this area, I definitely learned the value of hard work at an early age.”

After graduating from Marshall High, he earned a scholarship to play football at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., where he spent two seasons. Dr. Branscum finished his degree at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and then attended medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.

“I knew I wanted to be a family physician from the moment I decided to go to medical school so that I could come back to the area where I grew up,” he says. “Family medicine is such a diverse specialty and trains you to help patients of all ages in a variety of settings. It gives me the opportunity to listen, connect, and help many people. I was fortunate to train under and work with many excellent physicians at CoxHealth.”

After medical school, Dr. Branscum completed his residency in the Cox Family Medicine Residency program in Springfield. “When I rotated there in my fourth year, I knew I had found my number one choice because of the wonderful people there,” he says. “Cox Family Medicine Residency is one of the top family medicine programs in the region. I was able to gain skills and experiences to take with me to Harrison to serve the people of Boone County and surrounding areas.”

When he is not in the office, Dr. Branscum loves to fish, hunt, camp, golf and spend time with his wife, Ashley, and their two young sons, Ford and Wills. Ashley grew up in Bergman, just outside of Harrison. They are expecting their third son, Porter, this October.

"We can't express how thrilled we are to join a community as welcoming and thriving as Harrison and how thankful we are to be joining such a supportive health system as CoxHealth," he says.

Dr. Branscum will see patients of all ages at CoxHealth Center Harrison and will offer a range of services, including primary care, management of chronic health conditions, sports physicals, preventative screenings and minor procedures.

The clinic is located at 715 Sherman Ave. West and will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 870-743-9744 to make an appointment.