Friends of UAMS – Batesville Chapter Gathers for Inaugural Event

By Yavonda Chase

Arkansas Rep. Michelle Gray (center) visits with Phil Baldin and Judy Belcher at the Friends of UAMS -- Batesville Chapter event.

Arkansas Rep. Michelle Gray (center) visits with Phil Baldwin and Judy Belcher at the Friends of UAMS — Batesville Chapter event.

The evening event was held at the Batesville home of Dianne and Mark Lamberth. Dianne Lamberth is a member of the UAMS Foundation Fund Board.

Arkansas Rep. Michelle Gray of Melbourne was in attendance, as was Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, who recognized UAMS North Central with a Proclamation for Outstanding Service.

Josephine Raye Rogers, Bob Carius and University of Arkansas Trustee John Goodson turn out to support UAMS.

Josephine Raye Rogers, Bob Carius and University of Arkansas Trustee John Goodson turn out to support UAMS.

Also attending the event were University of Arkansas Trustee John Goodson of Texarkana and two other members of the UAMS Foundation Fund Board, Chairman Patti Bailey of Little Rock and Vice Chairman for Board Development Jim Darr of Little Rock.

The Lamberths welcomed guests to their home and introduced UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D., to the group.

Dianne Lamberth (second from right) welcomes Dennie Moore, Gary Bebow and Roxane Townsend, M.D., to her Batesville home.

Dianne Lamberth (second from right) welcomes Dennis Moore, Gary Bebow and UAMS Medical Center CEO Roxane Townsend, M.D., to her Batesville home.

Rahn thanked those in attendance and asked for their continued support and advocacy on behalf of UAMS, the state’s only academic health sciences center. He said it is vital to have advocates in communities around Arkansas who believe in UAMS’ statewide mission of improving the health and health care of all Arkansans.

“Too often UAMS is viewed as a Little Rock institution, when really it is providing valuable health care to the entire state,” Rahn said. “UAMS does this in a variety of ways, including through the education of physicians, many of whom remain in Arkansas after they’ve graduated, and through eight regional centers across the state, including UAMS North Central in Batesville.”

Mark Lamberth, Susie Jones, Tom Jones and Steve Bryant enjoy the inaugural gathering of Friends of UAMS -- Batesville Chapter.

Mark Lamberth, Susie Jones, Tom Jones and Steve Bryant enjoy an evening in support of UAMS and its statewide mission.

He also stressed the importance of UAMS’ strategic partnerships with other health care providers and recognized the leadership of one such partner in Batesville, White River Medical Center CEO Gary Bebow, who was in attendance.

Lance Burchett, UAMS vice chancellor for institutional advancement, wrapped up the evening’s remarks by noting that this was the chartering of the fourth Friends of UAMS chapter with others already established in Texarkana, Jonesboro and Monticello. More chapters are planned, including ones in Fort Smith, Russellville and Pine Bluff.