UAMS Ranked 7th in Nation on Forbes Magazine’s Best Employers for Diversity List

By Spencer Watson

The rankings are based on independent surveys of more than 50,000 people in workplaces of more than 1,000 employees. They include both direct and indirect recommendations and consider both diversity in executive leadership and institutional efforts to promote diversity in the workplace.

“I have always said that at UAMS our diversity is our superpower, enabling us to do great things,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, chancellor of UAMS and CEO of UAMS Health. “Diversity and inclusion are part of our core values at UAMS and inform all parts of our mission to research, educate and provide care.”

The survey included consideration of general diversity as well as gauging participant’s perceptions of each employer’s approach to gender and ethnic diversity, as well as LGBTQ+ representation and accommodation of employees with disabilities.

“This national ranking is an accomplishment for all of our employees at UAMS, because it is a team effort. Diversity and inclusion require an individual commitment to our common goal of creating a welcoming atmosphere in which everyone feels respected and valued,” said Brian Gittens, Ed.D., MPA, vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion.

“We are committed to having a workforce that represents the people we serve, and those values are reflected in our policies and practices in hiring and advancement, so that across our institution all voices can be heard,” added Danielle Lombard-Sims, Ph.D., vice chancellor and chief human resources officer.

The complete listing of Forbes Best Employers for Diversity and a full explanation of the methodology are available at www.forbes.com/best-employers-diversity/.

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 3,485 students, 915 medical residents and fellows, and seven dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 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.

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