View Larger Image Patterson and Erck
From left, Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, and John Erck at the 2024 Society of the Double Helix reception celebrating philanthropy at UAMS. Image by Evan Lewis

UAMS Achieves Fundraising Milestone with $40.8 Million Received in Fiscal Year 2024

By Andrew Vogler

| LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) reported the second highest fundraising year, raising more than $40.8 million through gifts and philanthropic grants in the 2024 fiscal year. It is only the second time in UAMS’s history that fundraising has exceeded $40 million. In total, 4,711 donations were received in the fiscal year.

“In light of challenging economic times, this is a remarkable achievement that displays an abundance of generosity in Arkansas and beyond,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “This is also an amazing effort by our dedicated fundraising team who have overcome many challenges to secure critical funds that support UAMS’ programs throughout the state.”

The Division of Institutional Advancement integrates donor and alumni relations with fundraising to secure resources and support for the UAMS Foundation Fund for the benefit of the UAMS mission.

Institutional Advancement secures philanthropic gifts and grants from individuals, corporations and community partners that provide critical resources to advance the work in UAMS’ threefold mission areas — education, patient care and research.

Philanthropic gifts are helping to transform health care in our state for the benefit of all 3.2 million Arkansans. Notable initiative support from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, includes:

  • $5.7 million investment in education, training and student scholarships, with a significant portion raised through leadership gifts from UAMS alumni.
  • $7 million investment in facilities, including in the UAMS Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital and the Radiation Oncology Center that opened in summer 2023, and the UAMS Milk Bank that opened in September 2023. The UAMS Health Orthopedics & Sports Performance Center in Springdale, which broke ground in September 2023, has received support in the amount of $4.5 million from the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation. This project owes much of its progress to the foundation’s leadership and generosity.
  • With a $5 million gift from the Chris Fowler family, UAMS met its initial $30 million fundraising goal for the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s campaign to achieve National Cancer Institute Designation. In total, 8,700 philanthropic gifts have been received from Arkansans and donors across the U.S. to support this effort.
  • $1.34 million investment in the expansion of specialty care and clinical centers at Northeast Regional Campus in Jonesboro and Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville, as well as the reopening of the UAMS Health Family Medical Center in El Dorado.
  • $4.5 million investment in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine in support for children’s mental health, including the Trauma Research Initiative for Schools (TRIS), and the establishment of Cathy Cole Seilhan and Denton Seilhan Endowed Chair for Child and Family Resilience.
  • $125,000 investment in health and wellness programs such as Stocked & Reddie and Double Your Dollars to address food insecurity, as well as the 12th Street Health & Wellness Clinic in Little Rock and the North Street Clinic at the Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville to increase and expand health care equity and access.
  • $2 million investment in endowed chairs and professorships, including the creation of the James and Patricia Wallis Professorship in Radiation Oncology, and the Omar T. Atiq, M.D., MACP, Distinguished Chair in Physician Leadership.

“While visiting with donors and community partners, it is clear that we all share the same goal of growing healthy communities in Arkansas,” said John Erck, vice chancellor for the Division of Institutional Advancement. “In these conversations, it’s inspiring to hear the consistent dedication to improving health care and quality of life throughout the state. The conviction for UAMS is something we are honored by, and their philanthropy will profoundly impact our state for generations to come.”

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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