Extending a Hand: Chancellor Patterson Greets UAMS Employees, Staff

By Benjamin Waldrum

Patterson said he was thrilled to be part of the UAMS team.

Patterson said he was thrilled to be part of the UAMS team.

Patterson, whose first day at UAMS was June 1, stood in the middle of the gallery and greeted each employee in turn, with some coming up in small groups. He shook hands, talked, laughed, and posed for a few pictures. Patterson made sure to take as much time as he could with each person, asking about their role and duties in the institution.

Employee interest in the new chancellor was high: the long line snaked out the door and into the hospital lobby, reaching back towards the Lobby Café. Several hundred employees attended.

Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., UAMS senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost, who served as interim chancellor until Patterson arrived, introduced him to the crowd and thanked him for coming to work at the state’s only health sciences university.

Patterson thanked Gardner for her service. He said he was excited to meet everyone and was thrilled to be part of the UAMS team.

Patterson, who arrived from Weill-Cornell Medical Center and Komansky Children’s Hospital/New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York, said that he and his family are looking forward to enjoying the beautiful Arkansas outdoors.