Judd Hill Foundation Pledges $1 Million to Support UAMS Northeast Regional Campus, Cancer Patients
| LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) announced today in Jonesboro that the Judd Hill Foundation has pledged $1 million to establish the Judd Hill Foundation Fund for Excellence in support of the UAMS Northeast Regional Campus and cancer patients in the region.
“I would like to thank the Judd Hill Foundation for its continued support of UAMS, helping us to advance the most critical initiatives of the institution,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “This support of UAMS’ mission-critical work will leave a legacy that will endure well into the future and will have a profound impact on the lives of the people in Northeast Arkansas.”
The Judd Hill Foundation Fund for Excellence will invest in the Northeast Regional Campus’ highest priorities including support for education, research, clinical care and campus improvements. The funds will also be used by UAMS to provide additional support for cancer patients in the Delta, helping connect them with resources and care providers in their region. The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute is on the path to achieving National Cancer Institute Designation and increasing outreach to patients in rural areas is a major goal in that process.
“The National Cancer Institute expects its designated cancer centers to fully engage their catchment area, which for us is the state of Arkansas,” said Michael Birrer, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. “This includes geographically challenging areas such as rural settings along the Mississippi Delta. We are very excited about this generous donation and what it can do for cancer care in this area.”
The Judd Hill Foundation has supported the Northeast Regional Campus for over 25 years. The foundation was established in 1991 through the estate of Esther Hill Chapin, the daughter of Judd Hill. Chapin was passionate about education and health care, especially in benefit of northeast Arkansas. Michael L. Gibson has served as its trustee since its inception.
“To have a thriving community, we need a healthy community, and I believe UAMS plays a critical role in supporting the growth of Northeast Arkansas,” said Gibson. “The Northeast Regional Campus is incredibly important for Jonesboro and the surrounding area, and the Judd Hill Foundation is extremely proud to support UAMS’ mission.”
The Northeast Regional Campus, established in 1979, is one of eight campuses that make up UAMS Regional Campuses, a statewide network that was founded in 1973 to encourage UAMS medical school graduates to remain in Arkansas and help address the state’s shortage of primary care physicians. The Regional Campuses also serve as an educational outreach network for UAMS, and the principal means to decentralize medical and other health professions education throughout the state. The Northeast Regional Campus serves the 10-county region of Clay, Craighead, Cross, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, Randolph and Woodruff counties.
“For many years, UAMS has enjoyed a dedicated partnership with the Judd Hill Foundation in Northeast Arkansas, providing excellent support for all UAMS’ mission areas as well as rural health care,” said Richard Turnage, M.D., vice chancellor for Regional Campuses. “This latest gift is a testament to the foundation’s long-term commitment to health care, for which we are deeply humbled by.”
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.###