The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) received a $200,000 gift from J. Thomas “Tommy” May and Kathryn May to elevate the J. Thomas May Endowed Chair in Department of Neurology in the UAMS College of Medicine to a distinguished chair.
J. Thomas May Endowed Distinguished Chair supports research and clinical care for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the J. Thomas May Center for ALS Research at the UAMS main campus and the UAMS Health ALS Clinic at the Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville. The fund will support ALS care to patients statewide and help train, recruit and retain ALS physician-researchers. Additionally, the fund will accelerate research and clinical trial participation and enhance the overall quality of clinical care for individuals living with ALS.
The distinguished chair was named in honor of Tommy May of Pine Bluff, former CEO of Simmons First National Corp., whose extensive history of civic and community service reflects his dedication to education, health care and community development in Arkansas. May, a longtime supporter of UAMS, was diagnosed with ALS in 2005. In 2008, UAMS established the J. Thomas May Center for ALS Research in honor of May.
“Since my ALS diagnosis, I have been blessed to receive extraordinary, world-class care at UAMS. It gives me tremendous pride to know that so many Arkansans have access to this same level of compassionate, leading-edge treatment,” said Tommy May. “This endowed chair will hopefully enhance vital research and help find improved treatments for Arkansans and beyond. I am encouraged by the breakthroughs that lie ahead and the lives that will be touched through continued innovation in ALS research and clinical excellence. God has blessed Kathryn and I in so many ways and hopefully this gift will in some way make a difference in the lives of others.”