Walmart Foundation Awards $56,000 to UAMS for Diversity Programs
| Aug. 17, 2016 | The Walmart Foundation has given $56,000 to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) for its Center for Diversity Affairs Programs. The summer enrichment programs encourage students throughout the state to consider careers in health care.
The presentation took place Aug. 17 as part of Walmart’s Day of Giving, held annually to recognize organizations whose efforts address local needs and improve the state of Arkansas.
“We thank the Walmart Foundation for their generous gift and support of the UAMS Center for Diversity Affairs and its programs for students,” said Billy Thomas, M.D., UAMS vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion. “A diverse health care workforce does a better job of taking care of a diverse population, and this gift will allow us more visibility and inclusion in our community.”
Michael Lindsey, Walmart director of public affairs, praised the Center for Diversity Affairs for its efforts both at UAMS and in reaching young people across the state.
“Diversity isn’t only a good ingredient for success, it’s critical for the future,” said Lindsey “We’re proud to support organizations like UAMS and its Center for Diversity Affairs that share our goal of creating opportunities so people can live better. This grant reflects our commitment to increasing diversity and inclusion in the health care workforce.”
The Center for Diversity Affairs summer enrichment programs are designed to strengthen science, math, literacy and test-taking skills. In addition, the programs give students an introduction to the many health career options at UAMS and include mentored research, the Summer Science Discovery Program, Bridging the Gap, ACT Preparation, and Undergraduate Summer Science Enrichment Program I and II. This summer, more than 180 students were exposed to health careers in the UAMS colleges of Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and the Graduate School.
The Walmart Foundation supports initiatives focused on creating career opportunities and strengthening communities, in an effort to enable sustainable impact. The foundation meets the needs of the underserved by directing charitable giving toward its core areas of opportunity, sustainability and community.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,275 students, 890 medical residents and fellows, and five dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 12,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.###