UAMS College of Pharmacy Alumni Donate Building for Community Outreach
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(Left to right) UAMS College of Pharmacy Dean Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Vicki and Karrol Fowlkes, and Vicki Fowlkes’ daughter Su-Lauren Wilson on the day the gift was given.
Oct. 10, 2011 | Vicki and Karrol Fowlkes, of Salem, have donated a Little Rock building to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy that will be dedicated to community outreach.
The couple are 1974 graduates of the UAMS College of Pharmacy and Karrol Fowlkes, Pharm.D, is a former associate dean of the College. Located near 12th and Cedar Streets about five blocks south of the UAMS campus, the building formerly housed Finnegan’s Pharmacy and most recently was leased by USA Drug. A health and wellness clinic for local citizens staffed by UAMS students and faculty is planned for the donated building.
“We appreciate the generosity of the Fowlkes family and their foresight in making this gift,” said Stephanie F. Gardner, Pharm.D, Ed.D, dean of the UAMS College of Pharmacy. “They know the value of locating a clinic dedicated to community outreach near UAMS. It will provide great opportunities for our students to gain experience, while providing services for people in the area. Over the years, this building has served many patients in the 12th street area. I’m very grateful to Vicki and Karrol and have promised them that we will do our best to continue their tradition of caring for people in this community.”
The UAMS colleges of pharmacy, medicine, health related professions and public health already have begun to work with community leaders to provide a variety of services, including disease management, basic dental care, medication management, patient education and immunizations. The new clinic may also serve as a primary referral location for individuals who have been screened by students and faculty at other locations and who need follow-up care.
“Karrol and I are so pleased to donate this building to UAMS and the College of Pharmacy,” said Vicki Fowlkes. “We were very excited when we endowed the Karrol and Vicki Fowlkes Excellence in Community Practice Scholarship, but we feel this donation and the benefits the community will derive from this ‘wellness center’ far exceed any gifts we have ever made. It is very gratifying to help revitalize this area where I spent many hours working, and also where many past professors and students of the UAMS College of Pharmacy practiced. We will watch this development with much anticipation and delight.”