UAMS Marks $165 Million in Estate Gifts
Living and deceased donors have pledged over $100 million to the medical school, funding scholarships and research chairs.
By Leah Thompson ·
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences recognized its estate donors during a luncheon held at the Capital Hotel in downtown Little Rock. The event brought together members of the 1879 Society, a group named for the year the institution was founded. The gathering focused on the financial impact of bequests that have supported the university since the late 19th century.
The total value of these commitments exceeds $165 million. More than $100 million has come from deceased benefactors who left assets such as money and property to the university. An additional $65 million is committed by living members who have designated UAMS in their wills or trusts. These funds support endowed chairs, student scholarships, and medical research programs across the state.
John Erck, vice chancellor for the Division of Institutional Advancement, addressed the attendees regarding the long-term effect of their contributions. "It is my honor to celebrate your commitment to UAMS, recognizing your investment in our work, and your legacy that will continue to impact and advance healthcare in our state," Erck said. He noted that the goal of this philanthropy is to make Arkansas the healthiest state in the region for current and future generations.
C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., the UAMS chancellor, emphasized the belief in the institution's mission shared by the donors. "Your presence here represents something powerful, a belief in the mission of UAMS and in the difference that philanthropy can make in the lives of others," Barnes said. He explained that this generosity helps advance healthcare, education, and research for generations to come.
The first known estate commitment to UAMS came from Isaac Folsom, M.D., in 1892. Folsom bequeathed $20,000 to build a clinic where medical students could practice and treat patients. Every College of Medicine graduate receives an acknowledgment of Folsom on their diploma. Tim Dockery, J.D., associate vice chancellor for development, stated that the society has funded many endowed chairs and professorships, as well as thousands of scholarships.
Attendees heard from individuals who have directly benefited from these funds. Kenneth Alderson, a College of Medicine student, received the R. Louise Stout Simmons Endowed Chancellor’s Scholarship. Susan Emmett, M.D., MPH, holds the inaugural Thomas McGill Chair in Otolaryngology. Elizabeth Riley, DNP, APRN, serves as the inaugural holder of the Carol Silverstrom Professorship in Nursing.
Emmett, who is also the founding director of the UAMS Center for Hearing Health Access, described estate gifts as a way to create opportunities. "At their core, estate gifts are about legacy, creating opportunities to make the world a better place," Emmett said. She added that these gifts provide a springboard for innovations and new models of care to reach rural communities.
Riley, an associate professor and director of the College of Nursing Master of Nursing Science Program, said her scholarship support opened doors she was unsure were meant for her. "That opportunity helped set me on a path to becoming a nurse, an educator, and a researcher," Riley said. Dockery encouraged guests to share their stories with family and friends to inspire others to consider planned giving.
