University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Caduceus Yearbook (Little Rock, AR)

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Eventually, in 1879, with the support of and for the Medical Society, certain physicians of Little Rock under the leadership of Dr. Hooper formed a stock company and inaugurated a medical school for the state. The University accepted this institution as the Medical Department of the University, granting degrees to the graduates, but stipulated that it would assume no financial responsibility for its support. It was 65 years before this fiscal irresponsibility was reversed. Support was solely by the physicians of Little Rock, by the city, which made available the facilities of the city hospitals, by student fees, and by the State Medical Society. Recognition by the Association of American Medical Colleges was attained in 1890, in which year the curriculum was extended to four years of six months each, and there were 83 students with 17 graduating. In 1906 a second medical school, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, was established. This institution likewise was self-supporting and while it struggled little was added to medicine in Arkansas. At the 1909 meeting of the Arkansas State Medical Society, a committee was appointed with Doctor Young of Springdale its Chairman, with three objectives. First, to persuade the two faculties of medicine to merge, to combine their acquired properties and equipment and to deed them to the State. Second, to persuade the General Assembly to accept these properties, making the combined school a part of the University and providing for its support. Third, to induce the State to build and maintain a Charity Hospital in connection with and under the control of the University School of Medicine. The first two of these objectives was accomplished by 1911, but it required nearly 50 years for the third, the Hospital. In accepting this gift, the Legislature--not the University--pledged the faith and credit of the State to forever maintain and operate a first class medical school as a part of the University, with the course of study, methods of instruction and equipment of standards equivalent to that required of Medical Colleges by the Association of American Colleges. How- ever, the Legislature adjourned without appropriating any funds for such a purpose. As the legislature prepared to move to the New Capitol in 1913, it passed a resolution making available the 75 year old State Capitol Building for use of the Medical School, and in the same year Dean Smith, a graduate of the University, presented a budget of S50,000. Accord- ing to the Gazette: A huge laugh went up from the solons when that request was presented, who regarded the main- tenance of a medical school as the wildest extravagence. However, the Legislature appropriated S36,000. There were further appropriations by the Legislature to the Medical Department directly. It was not until 1945 that the appropriation for the University included money for the school of Medicine. Because of the financial and other stringencies, the school lost its accreditation and reverted to a two year preclinical'school in 1918. The State Medical Society Committee was still working on its third goal, a hospital. These developments, plus the persuasive powers of Dean Smith, induced the Legislature in 1920 to appropriate 550,000 for the hospital. Unfortunately, the State Penitentary was in debt, and the funds subsequently were diverted to the Penitentiary. The City of Little Rock again came to the rescue with the completion of the new City Hospital at McArthur Park, making these facilities available to the Medical School, and clinical instruction was resumed. In 1935 the modern Medical School building was constructed with W.P.A. funds,adjacentto the hospital, and in 1939 the State leased the City Hospital to complete the first combined unit for the Medical Center as such until 1956. The present facility, adjacent to the State Hospital-Memorial Park Complex to the west of the Arkansas Capitol Building in Little Rock, was dedicated in 1956 as the University of Arkansas Medical Center. Its academic components were the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Graduate Studies. The 321 bed University Hospital and its clinics were the primary clinical facilities for all students. A School of Health Related Professions was added in 1971. July 1975 brought new status to the Cam pus. The U of A Board of Trustees voted to make the Medical Center an autonomous unit named the U of A for Medical Sciences, administered by a chancellor, and its schools became colleges. The clinical facilities have been expanded through cooperative agreements with Arkansas Children's Hospital, Doctor's Hospital, the Arkansas Baptist Medical System, St. Vincent's Infirmary, and the VA hospitals in North Little Rock and Little Rock. Development of Area Health Education Centers at El Dorado, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Pine Bluff and Texarkana began in 1973 and has resuslted in an increased manpower for primary health care throughout the state while simultaneously providing UAMS graduates with further opportunities for post-IVID education. University Medical School 1935-1956 University H05Pltal 19351956 G, ..--'- l 7 ,M ...s....e-WM-:' X ,s I I -...mg I , !!lll7 ills Ill lnlf 5 YK 1. s I 1 j H -llill I 1 11? lil :sw Q . ,W N--we s-..,l-H ' 1

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