Steven A. Webber, MBChB, MRCP Named Recipient of the AMS Distinguished Dean’s Chair

Arkansas Medical Society leadership was privileged to attend the formal investiture of Steven A. Webber, MBChB, MRCP, recipient of the AMS Distinguished Dean’s Chair, on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, at the Fred W. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute at UAMS in Little Rock, Arkansas. In attendance were David Wroten, executive vice president, and other staff members; Naveen Patil, MD, president-elect; Samuel Bledsoe, MD, secretary; and George Conner III, MD, immediate past president. Additional past presidents and other AMS members were also in attendance.

In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Webber said, “It is a great honor for me to serve as dean and executive vice chancellor at UAMS and to be the holder of the AMS Distinguished Dean’s Chair. I’m particularly appreciative of the confidence that the chancellor and provost placed in me by recruiting me to UAMS.”

“Steve strikes a balance of driving accountability, fostering support, and encouraging growth,” said UAMS Chief Financial Officer Amanda George of Dr. Webber’s leadership. “He works diligently to improve the financial performance of the College of Medicine while always looking out for what is best for UAMS as a whole. He is extremely dedicated and works tirelessly to keep us moving forward.”

UAMS Interim Chancellor C. Lowry Barnes, MD, also praised Dr. Webber, noting that an endowed chair is “the highest achievement that an academic institution can bestow upon one of its faculty members.”

A tradition dating back to 1502, endowed chairs have a profound impact. Stephanie Gardner, PharmD, EdD, UAMS provost and chief strategy officer, explained, “They help us recruit and retain world-class educators, clinicians, and scientists. In Dr. Webber’s case, he is all three, as well as a dean. Just as importantly, they support the vital work and vision of the faculty who hold them. Endowed chairs and professorships help us improve our programs and services in perpetuity, especially when resources are limited. We are delighted to celebrate the philanthropic spirit of the Arkansas Medical Society that made this chair possible.”

In praise of the AMS, Dr. Webber explained, “The Arkansas Medical Society goes all the way back to 1875 – just four years longer than the medical school, which started in 1879. The eight members who came together to form the medical school were all members of the Arkansas Medical Society. So, we have 146 years of working together. The Society has supported UAMS in scholarships, grants for medical education initiatives, and statewide advocacy issues critical to UAMS physicians and patients. The AMS Distinguished Chair further reinforces the relationship between the two organizations. Thank you so much to the Arkansas Medical Society.”

Dr. Webber was honored as the fourth recipient of the AMS Distinguished Dean’s Chair, an award established in 2017 to honor the dean of the UAMS College of Medicine who has made a significant impact on the institution and the medical community. Past recipients have included Pope L. Moseley, MD; Christopher T. Westfall, MD; and Susan Smyth, MD, PhD.