UAMS Honors John Lipton for Rural Health Care Advocacy
| DEC. 17, 2002 | The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has honored John Lipton of Warren, chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission, for 20 years of advocacy for rural health care.
UAMS recently presented Lipton with the Dale Bumpers Area Health Education Centers Leadership Award for his service as chairman of the UAMS Regional Programs Advisory Council.
A native of Warren, Lipton is completing a 10-year term as chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission. He previously served 12 consecutive terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives, including a term as Speaker.
Lipton has provided consistent support for rural health care. He was instrumental in limiting the scope of medical malpractice suits in Arkansas (1979), in establishing the UAMS Rural Hospital Program (1988), in strengthening the Arkansas Rural Medical Practice Student Loan and Scholarship program (1989), in establishing the Arkansas Medicaid Rebate Program Revolving Fund (1991), in increasing the class size for the UAMS College of Medicine (1991), and in supporting legislative appropriations for UAMS Regional Programs.
UAMS operates seven Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) around the state. The centers provide health care, continuing education for health care professionals, and residency training for family physicians in training.