Dr. Wilson took obvious pleasure in an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reader poll last year that found UAMS the No. 1 place to work in Arkansas.

"I was really pleased with that," he said.

Chancellor Wilson reviewed the UAMS Strategic Plan and summarized financial condition of the university. Whether discussing new clinical magnet programs, groundbreaking research, or introducing three new deans and two vice chancellors who have joined the faculty in the last year, the Chancellor kept returning to the high quality of employees at campus.

"You cannot have a great place if you don't have great people in the right jobs," Wilson said. "A lot of you are so dedicated to UAMS, no matter what job you are in. It's just terrific."

He reported that UAMS saw 14 percent more patients in the last fiscal year than in the previous year. Admissions and surgical procedures were at their highest ever in July and August. He praised the university's researchers and encouraged them to obtain multiple external grants to help meet the university's goal of doubling research funding in five years.

"UAMS has been transformed in the past two decades … because we've always had a vision of where we wanted to go," he said. "I think we all want to be part of a great institution."

The chancellor also gave the overflow lecture room crowd an overview of the ambitious construction projects underway on campus. A photo collage on a screen illustrated the College of Public Health, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine and Neurosciences Institute, the future home of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, and the UAMS Arkansas BioVentures Building.

In response to an employee's question, he said the campus needs more parking spaces for employees and that he hopes to see construction of another parking deck in 2004.

The UAMS Academic Senate and House of Delegates were sponsors of the event.