HJAR Jul/Aug 2019

Healthcare Journal of ARKANSAS I  JUL / AUG 2019 21 Q&A they’ve shared great stories about basic science and clinical faculty members who are dedicated to their education and find time to mentor them and provide individ- ual attention. Likewise, I’ve heard really wonderful things about students from our faculty. The Class of 2019, just as one example, has done remarkably well academically, on national exams and in the National Resident Match- ing Program. We have had very successful matches in recent years. This year we had the most graduates ever achieve residen- cies, with every student who wanted a posi- tion obtaining one. And yet, it’s often other student accomplishments that I hear about, such as humanitarian and community vol- unteer efforts and extracurricular scholarly work. What are some of the biggest challenges with directing and guiding a large medical school? I am very fortunate to work with excep- tional academic, clinical, and research leaders, and some 1,500 faculty members who are focused on our shared mission to improve health care and the health of Arkansans. These colleagues make my job easier. That said, medical schools across the country face many of the same challenges that we do here inArkansas. I think the larg- est of these is meeting the increasing need for high-quality health care. Asignificant issue is the insufficient num- ber of residency positions for the growing number of medical school graduates. The longstanding federal cap on residency positions is like a narrowing of the pipeline necessary for producing the physicians we need today and in the future. We are actively involved in trying to encourage Congress to lift the cap and open more positions. We are also working with hospitals across the state to develop and expand much-needed residency programs. What do you see as the future of health care, and how can UAMS help design for this future? Arkansas can expect to see an ever increasing demand for health care. Our pop- ulation continues to age, driving up demand for health care services. The need for care for a wide range of diseases, including can- cer, diabetes, and other chronic conditions will increase. Our response is to continue UAMS’growth and evolution as a statewide system for improved health care, health education, and biomedical research. UAMS has had significant statewide reach and impact through longstanding programs in many areas. These include our eight regional campuses, seven centers on aging, 11 Kids First sites, and a multitude of telehealth services under the new UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation, launched earlier this year to use technol- ogy to improve health care quality and the patient experience while minimizing costs for all Arkansans. They include nationally recognized programs for high-risk preg- nancy and stroke. The College of Medicine and UAMS are committed to teaching future physicians and their colleagues in other health pro- fessions, and preparing them to provide the very best compassionate care for the patients of tomorrow. We will continue to focus on research that generates knowledge and tools for improving our ability to pro- vide care. And we will remain dedicated to providing world-class patient care, and to working with affiliates across the state to improve health care in Arkansas. n