JULY 1, 2002 | The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation in Las Vegas, Nev., has promised up to $18.25 million more to the geriatrics program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

The foundation has awarded $3.25 million to the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging at UAMS and the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics in the UAMS College of Medicine.

The balance of $15 million is a challenge grant to the center for a permanent endowment to support its operation. UAMS Chancellor I. Dodd Wilson, M.D., and David A. Lipschitz, M.D., Ph.D., director of the center on aging and department of geriatrics, announced the gifts on campus today.

The Chancellor praised the scientists, clinicians, and educators who have made the geriatrics program "a core area of excellence for UAMS," specifically mentioning the founder of geriatric research at UAMS and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Eugene J. Towbin, M.D.

The foundation previously gave $28.8 to UAMS in 1997 for establishment of the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics, the second of its kind in the nation, and construction of a 96,000 square foot building on the UAMS campus that houses geriatric clinical, educational and research programs. The Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics and the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging at UAMS have become models throughout the nation.

"Our charge from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation was to be world class," Dr. Lipschitz said at an announcement ceremony this morning. "We have made a difference to older people in the state of Arkansas." Thanks to UAMS's specialized training for medical students who choose to become geriatricians, and to a network of satellite aging centers for education and health care around the state, "Arkansas has more geriatricians per capita than anywhere in the world," he said.

Mayor Patrick Henry Hays of North Little Rock participated in the ceremony, congratulating the university and center for this new gift and praising Dr. Lipschitz for the "inspiration that he brings to this community and state." (Listen to audio of the ceremony.)

Foundation Chairman Fred W. Smith commented, "The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has met all of their goals and milestones in establishing the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics with our initial grant. It is our goal with this grant to assist UAMS and the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics in establishing a permanent funding base that will assure the ongoing operation of the department. We have been very pleased with the development of the department over the past five years under the leadership of Dr. David Lipschitz."