Dr. Joseph Bates Receives High Honor for His Contributions to Arkansas Health Care

UAMS Professor and Associate Dean, Joseph Bates, MD was recently awarded the Asklepion Award by the Arkansas Medical Society for his monumental contributions to health care in our state. The Award, named for the Greek god of medicine, annually recognizes a physician who promotes the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health; embodies the values of the medical profession through leadership, service, excellence, integrity and ethical behavior; and serves the community through dedicated medical practice.

Dr. Bates’ list of medical accomplishments is impressive with a career that spans more than five decades. He attended Hendrix College and graduated from the University of Arkansas Medical School, where he did most of his residency training. That was merely the beginning of Dr. Bates’ lengthy and fulfilling career. He went on to serve as a professor in several capacities at UAMS, and he has received many awards for his achievements. Dr. Bates also retired as a Major from the United States Army.

In introduction of the recipient, colleague Tom Bruce, MD, offered highlights of Dr. Bates’ fitness for this award. “He’s a special guy in medicine and has been an all-star in just about everything he’s done. His accolades, of course, have largely been academic, but in fact he’s a fantastic physician – kind of the old style physician,” said Dr. Bruce. “Whatever he’s done through the years, he’s always been, first of all, a great physician.”

In his responding speech, Dr. Bates said, “Altogether, I’ve lived through the most spectacular time in medicine. It’s been an honor to be a part of that. We’ve had Medicare and Medicaid, and now we have the Private Option. We’ve suffered through changes, changes, changes, but mankind has benefited so much from people like you in this room…. To be honored by people like you for this is an honor that I can’t fully express.”

The Arkansas Medical Society is a voluntary professional association, established in 1875, representing more than 4,300 physicians and medical students as well as the patients and communities they serve. Some of the society’s most recent advocacy efforts include supporting extending private health insurance coverage to working families earning below 138% of the federal poverty level, advocating for responsible and practical reforms such as patient-centered medical homes and establishing a prescription drug monitoring program to combat abuse and diversion of prescription drugs. Other significant advances for Arkansas patients and physicians supported by AMS include establishing a statewide trauma system and passage of the Clean Indoor Air Act.”