October 2001

On Providing Hope and Healing
by I. Dodd Wilson, M.D., Chancellor

My keynote speech for the Diversity Week celebrations at UAMS was scheduled months ago for Tuesday, September 11 — a day that will live in our memory. It was a terrible tragedy.

In response, two things came to my mind. One is, we can’t solve the world’s problems here, but we can make UAMS as good as it can possibly be. Let’s answer the terrorists in that way.

Second, we have over five million Muslims living and working and studying in America. Some of them have been discriminated against. There has been, and will be, ethnic and religious stereotyping, but that hasn’t been as evident nationally as one might think. In fact, I’m very proud of what has “not happened” here, but I also had confidence that we would judge each person based on qualities and behavior, not ethnicity or religion.

I see UAMS as a talent-based organization. By recruiting talented people, we have attracted outstanding professionals from all over the world. UAMS is the most diverse place in Arkansas. Our goal isn’t diversity for its own sake. Our goal is excellence. By using all people as the potential pool of talent, UAMS has become stronger. We treat everybody on the basis of what they do, not on the basis of stereotypes. We judge on their performance. We are fair. We won’t tolerate discrimination. Our policy is something to celebrate.

My comments on diversity and our respect within this unique academic medical center for colleagues of many nationalities, religions, and cultures were eclipsed by the images on TV screens everywhere that day.

Americans and all who value liberty and freedom reeled in shock and recoiled in anger against the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. We saw the heroic work of firefighters, police officers, and others on the scene, and then watched helplessly as the towers collapsed upon many rescuers and the occupants trapped inside the buildings. You stayed at work on the 11th, teaching and learning and treating patients and performing hundreds of jobs to keep UAMS open, when you probably wanted to go home, tune in the news, and hug your loved ones. You have come to work each day since then to serve those who need you. We all appreciate that.

In more ordinary times, others may forget how important UAMS, and all academic health centers, are to the safety and security of our nation. In more ordinary times, we may sometimes forget that fact ourselves, as the daily pressures of health care, of teaching, of operating a large, complex institution distract us from our common purpose. But in these extraordinary times I hope you will each take heart in the knowledge that at academic health centers such as UAMS, we teach healers — and we help and heal our patients. September 11th reminded us that we are not merely Arkansans. We are not merely members of the UAMS community. We are Americans and part of a world community and we stand together through strength, goodness, and dedication.

Thank you.