C. Lowry Barnes invested in UAMS Chancellor’s Distinguished Chair

Dr. C. Lowry Barnes was formally invested in the Harry P. Ward Chancellor’s Distinguished Chair at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) during a ceremony in Little Rock. The event was attended by notable figures, including Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and philanthropist Alice Walton.

Barnes, an orthopedic surgeon who previously served as interim chancellor, outlined a strategic vision to expand UAMS's reach across Arkansas. A primary focus of his leadership will be addressing the financial instability of rural hospitals. He noted that UAMS is currently in discussions to partner with several hospitals to prevent potential closures, aiming to grow the institution from a one-hospital system to a ten-hospital system within the next few years.

In addition to rural healthcare support, Barnes intends to focus on increasing research and philanthropic funding, growing revenue for system sustainability, and raising employee wages.