The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) commemorated Martin Luther King Jr. on January 30, 2024, and launched the 2024 UAMS Serves campaign. The campaign encourages volunteerism and links UAMS staff and students with local community organizations. UAMS Chancellor and CEO, Cam Patterson, highlighted the value of service, referencing King’s statement, ‘everybody can be great because everybody can serve.’
UAMS Provost Stephanie Gardner reiterated Patterson’s message, emphasizing that service is integral to UAMS’s mission. She underscored the university’s dedication to enhancing the health and healthcare of Arkansans, mirroring King’s commitment to service. Gardner mentioned that many UAMS staff volunteer for nonprofit organizations and community activities, and the UAMS Serves campaign offers more opportunities for volunteering.
Representatives from several community service organizations, including the Arkansas Foodbank and United Way, attended the event. They shared information about their work and helped attendees register as volunteers. Sharon Ingram, chair of the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, gave a keynote speech on King’s principles of nonviolence.