UAMS Chancellor Envisions Bright Future Following Year of Strategic Achievements

During the recent State of the University address, UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, detailed the foundational advancements made in the past year that set the stage for a promising future.

Key highlights included the opening of the state’s first proton therapy center at the Radiation Oncology Center and the collaboration with Baptist Health, Proton International, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital to establish the Proton Center of Arkansas.

Other significant projects completed in 2023 were the inauguration of an orthopaedic clinic in North Little Rock, the launch of a new Urology Center in Rodney Parham, and the opening of The Orthopaedic & Spine Hospital on the main campus.

Additionally, the construction of a Child Development Center near the Hillary Rodham Clinton Library in Little Rock and the ongoing progress on a new Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center in Springdale signaled UAMS’s commitment to expanding its reach.

Chancellor Patterson also acknowledged new leadership appointments, such as Steven Webber as the new Dean of the College of Medicine, Tammy Jones as the Chief Nursing Officer, and Sean Taverna as the Dean of the Graduate School, among others.

Furthermore, Patterson highlighted the university’s strides in achieving goals outlined in the Vision 2029 strategic plan, with 265 out of 305 objectives either on track or already accomplished.

Plans for the future include aiming for National Cancer Institute Designation for the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and Magnet Designation for nursing, as well as expanding regional campuses to better serve the community.

Despite financial challenges facing the healthcare industry, Chancellor Patterson remains optimistic about UAMS’s financial outlook, citing recent positive trends and the university’s commitment to providing high-quality care to its patients.