Walkers Pledge $6 Million to Jones Eye Institute

05-02-02 (Little Rock)  Pat and Willard Walker of Springdale, Ark., have pledged $6 million to the Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

John P. Shock, M.D., director of the institute and executive vice chancellor of UAMS, announced the gift to the UAMS Foundation Fund Board during its quarterly meeting today.

Promising a “new approach towards excellence which keeps the best of traditional medicine yet integrates reforms,” Dr. Shock said the Walkers’ gift “will help in this transforming process. We will be taking a careful look at how best to use Mr. and Mrs. Walker’s gift to fight blindness.” Arkansas ranks third in the nation in the annual rate of new cases of blindness.

”In recognition of this support, we will be renaming the Arkansas Center for Eye Research within the institute the Pat and Willard Walker Eye Research Center,” Dr. Shock added.

UAMS Chancellor, I. Dodd Wilson, M.D., acknowledged the gift of the Walkers and said, “Pat and Willard Walker are remarkably generous in their support of worthy causes, including UAMS, and are a role model to others for philanthropic giving.”

The Jones Eye Institute is the home of the Department of Ophthalmology within the UAMS College of Medicine on the campus.  E. Albert Reece, M.D. Ph.D., M.B.A., Dean of the college, envisions an even brighter future for the department.  “Because of this important gift, the department can extend its clinical programs for prevention of eye disease, launch new research initiatives and train the eye doctors we need in this state and the nation.”

The institute has been raising funds in the “Next Level of Excellence” campaign toward a goal of $3 million.

The Walkers have made previous gifts to UAMS, including a gift in November of $1.1 million to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in the UAMS College of Medicine as well as contributions of approximately $8 million to the university’s Arkansas Cancer Research Center (ACRC). The university named the Pat and Willard Walker Tower, the ACRC home on the campus, in recognition of those gifts. The Walkers also contributed to the Carl L. Nelson, M.D., Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery and to the Kent Westbrook, M.D., Director’s Chair in the ACRC.

Click on above image for high res photo.
Suggested photo caption:
John P. Shock, M.D., Director of the Jones Eye Institute at UAMS, announced the Walker’s gift to members of the UAMS Foundation Fund Board during its May 5 meeting on the campus.

Additional Info on the Web:

Eye Institute Supporters: www.uams.edu/today/2002/040402/jei.htm  

Pat and Willard Walker Family: www.uams.edu/today/112901/walkers.htm

Jones Eye Institute: www.uams.edu/jei/  

Foundation Fund Board: www.uams.edu/advancement/foundation.htm  

Arkansas Center for Eye Research: www.uams.edu/jei/acer.htm  

Related article on “Next Level” Campaign at JEI: http://www.uams.edu/today/2002/040402/jei.htm  

Related article on Orthopaedic Surgery (another gift by the Walkers): www.uams.edu/today/112901/walkers.htm  

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Ashley Hooten
Jones Eye Institute at UAMS
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03/30/07