As external liaisons for Arkansas’ only academic medical center, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ Institutional Relations office is committed to connecting expertise to policymakers at all levels of government and to enhance the quality of life for all Arkansans.
The office’s primary role is to advocate on behalf of UAMS by building and promoting positive relationships with federal, state, and local policymakers and stakeholders to ensure legislative funding and policy initiatives reflect the needs of the university. Institutional Relations sustains and expands opportunities within communities through public policy and building relationships to strengthen statewide health care services and academic programs. The office also works in coordination with Melissa Rust, J.D., UA System vice president for government relations. Legislative and funding priorities are coordinated through the Office of the Chancellor.
In the last regular Arkansas legislative session, Institutional Relations successfully worked with the state to fund $4 million at UAMS for expanding graduate medical education (GME) programs, $5 million in new annual base line funding for general operations, and $100 million dollars for the National Cancer Institute Trust Fund to support the application for NCI certification at UAMS. The new annual base line funding is the first increase in general revenue funds from the state in over a decade. The office worked to create a GME Expansion Board and set aside funding for future GME expansion around the state at accredited sponsoring institutions. Institutional Relations has worked to position UAMS in a place of policy influence with state agencies and elected officials. As a result, UAMS has played a significant role in improving maternal and infant care in Arkansas on multiple fronts.
Congressional Delegation
Institutional Relations also works closely with Arkansas’ congressional delegation, which has helped direct grant funding for numerous UAMS projects and programs. Examples from the past year include $5 million for UAMS to coordinate programs across the state to reduce infant mortality; $3 million to strengthen the state’s first milk bank supporting sick and vulnerable infants; $8 million to create a gastroenterology clinic to improve digestive disease care, with a focus on cancer detection; and $1 million for equipment and technology upgrades for campus police. The delegation also supported a $31.7 million federal grant to support the UAMS Translational Research Institute’s efforts to accelerate discoveries for Arkansas’ toughest health challenges.
Members of the Team
Andy Davis is the vice chancellor for Institutional Relations. He previously spent eight years in the Arkansas General Assembly representing portions of Pulaski and Saline counties and served on numerous key committees. Davis coordinates with the governor’s office, members of the Arkansas General Assembly and the Arkansas congressional delegation to advance UAMS’ complex issues in health care and higher education.
V. Marq Golden, is director of external and local governmental relations. He previously worked with the City of Little Rock and the Department of Human Services. In his role with Institutional Relations he works with local governments and municipalities, and associated organizations including chambers of commerce and the Municipal League.
Jenna Goldman is director of agency and health system affairs. She previously worked with the Department of Health and Human Services and as director of government relations for Delta Dental and Mercy Health System. In her role with Institutional Relations, she leads engagement with state governmental agencies, health system partners and other stakeholders.
Current Arkansas Legislative Session Priorities
UAMS is grateful for the support of the Arkansas General Assembly and works closely with its members. Institutional Relations breaks priorities during the session into four categories:
- UAMS priority funding requests
- Requests for state programs operated by UAMS
- UAMS specific policy priorities
- General health care policy priorities
In the current session, our priority funding request is to fully fund UAMS Regional Campuses. That will require about $3.5 million annually. Our requests for state programs are to increase funding for the Arkansas Drug and Poison Information Center by $1 million annually, and to restore $500,000 in annual funding for the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement all payer claims database.
The specific policy priority goal for this session is to remove College of Medicine congressional district admission quotas that are dictated by state statute. With tighter accrediting standards and a declining number of applicants, this quota is becoming unattainable for UAMS. There will also be numerous health care proposals that UAMS will review as they are filed and debated.