Dr. Joe Bates, left, and Dr. Joe Thompson
ACHI was honored to attend Arkansas Business’ 2019 Health Care Heroes awards ceremony, where ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson was recognized as an award finalist and Dr. Joe Bates, who was instrumental in the founding of ACHI, received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The luncheon ceremony was held at Embassy Suites in Little Rock on Wednesday, April 24. The awards honor individuals, companies and organizations that are making a significant impact on the quality of health care in Arkansas.
Dr. Thompson was a finalist for Innovation Hero, along with Dr. Hari Eswaran of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, William Greene of Premier Gastroenterology Associates, and Dr. Darren Sommer of Innovator Health. Dr. Sommer won the award.
A highlight of the ceremony was Dr. Bates’ recognition for 61 years of service in health care, including close to 40 years spent practicing medicine as a faculty member at UAMS. He currently is professor of epidemiology and associate dean for public health practice at the UAMS College of Public Health and senior public health adviser to the director of the Arkansas Department of Health. In addition to helping found ACHI, he played a key role in establishing the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health. UAMS has established the Joseph H. Bates III, M.D., Professorship in Academic Public Health Practice in his honor.
“I encourage each of you to take the responsibility and the time to help people that need mentoring, particularly when they’re beginning their career,” Dr. Bates said in his acceptance speech. “It’ll be very satisfying for you. I’ve mentored some in this room today, and I sort of get proud when I see what they’ve done.”
ACHI congratulates all of the finalists and award winners and thanks Arkansas Business for the honor.
