Reynolds foundation creates UAMS chair

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging has received $1.5 million for a new distinguished academic chair.

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation gave the grant to the UAMS institute to create the Wes Smith Distinguished Chair in Geriatrics for Longevity, Health Promotion and Frailty Prevention. The academic medical center will name a professor to the chair at a later date, according to a news release.

An endowed chair — which can honor a person or a person’s accomplishments — is the highest academic honor a university can extend to its faculty. A distinguished chair is created with a gift of $1.5 million or more and requires the chair to use the interest proceeds for research, teaching or service activities.

“Wes has conscientiously served as a trustee of the Foundation for 20 years, with the past nine years in the role of vice chairman,” Foundation Chairman Fred W. Smith said in a prepared statement. “This chair will honor his personal commitment to a healthy lifestyle and longevity resulting from wise lifestyle choices.”

Dr. Jeanne Wei, the institute director, said the donation will ensure UAMS’ “strong leadership position in improving care to older adults” through innovative research and new patient treatments.

The foundation, which will stop operating at the end of next year, has given more than $99 million to UAMS in total.