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Robert H. Hopkins Jr., M.D.
UAMS’ Robert H. Hopkins Jr., M.D., Named Medical Director of National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
| LITTLE ROCK — Robert H. Hopkins Jr., M.D., a professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and director of the UAMS Division of General Internal Medicine, has been appointed medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).
“Dr. Hopkins is well-known and respected within the public health and medical communities for his thoughtful approach to decision-making and his skills as a clear and compassionate communicator,” NFID Executive Director and CEO Marla Dalton said in announcing the appointment from the foundation’s Bethesda, Maryland, headquarters.
Founded in 1973, the NFID is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to educating and engaging the public, communities and health care professionals about infectious diseases across the lifespan.
Hopkins will continue teaching and seeing patients in the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine. He also remains chair of the vaccine advisory committee of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and vice chair of the American College of Physicians Immunization Committee.
“We are delighted to tap into his expertise and look forward to working with him to advance the mission of NFID,” Dalton said.
“We are proud that Dr. Hopkins now has an even bigger audience with whom he can share his expertise and insights, which helps expand our mission of improving public health for all Arkansans far beyond our state’s borders,” said Michelle Krause, M.D., senior vice chancellor at UAMS Health and CEO of UAMS Medical Center. “This benefits the public at large and provides support for health care providers at UAMS and throughout Arkansas.”
“I am taking on this role at a historic time,” Hopkins said. “NFID is beginning its second 50 years, and I am joining a superb and dedicated team as it moves forward. We are facing the greatest challenge to protecting people from infectious diseases in history, with the unprecedented levels of anti-science, anti-vaccine misinformation saturating social media and the public consciousness worldwide.”
At the same time, “we have the greatest opportunity ever to protect more individuals and society at large with safe and effective vaccines, such as those for RSV, COVID-19, M-pox and malaria,” he added. “My role as NFID medical director will give me the platform to support our health care teams in Arkansas and across the United States with critical, evidence-based information to improve the health of Americans.”
As medical director, Hopkins will focus on the growth of NFID programs, including efforts to build vaccine confidence, address health equity issues, increase awareness of disease prevention and treatment, and strengthen NFID partner collaborations. He will also be the chief medical spokesman for NFID and will represent the foundation as a liaison to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Hopkins also will serve as an ex-officio member of the NFID Board of Directors and all board-level committees.
“I have long admired the work of NFID and its leadership in infectious disease education,” Hopkins said. “There are things each of us can do, like staying up-to-date on recommended vaccines that help to protect ourselves, our families and our communities. In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, the role of NFID as a trusted voice has never been more important.”
For additional information, visit www.nfid.org.
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.
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