 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ferris continues to lead by example
Ernest Ferris, M.D., former chairman of the UAMS department of radiology for 31 years, helped bring comprehensive subspecialty training and highly-specialized radiological care to Arkansas.
He also brought a unique perspective to the field. “I am perhaps a little different kind of radiologist. I am more of a clinical radiologist which means I stress the therapeutic and diagnostic implications of what we do,” said Ferris. “So, I think it’s more meaningful to the trainees and they are more well-rounded when they go out into the field.”
Ferris, who attended Boston Medical School, initially studied Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine before switching to Radiology because of a severe hearing deficit.
He later served as Chief of Radiology at Boston University Medical Center for eight years before being recruited to UAMS by then Dean of Medicine, Dr. Tom Bruce, in 1977.
All in all, he trained more than 350 fellows and residents at UAMS - three of whom have gone on to become department chairs at various medical schools. And he ultimately expanded the department to include 50 radiologists with diverse sub-specialties before he stepped down as chair in 2008.
Ferris, who still works three days a week, believes in giving back as much as he does advancing his field.
“UAMS has been good to me,” Ferris expressed. “And when I reflect back on pre-med and medical school there is no way that I paid enough money for them to educate me. Somebody had to do that. I know that some of that funding must have come from philanthropy.”
Dr. Ferris’s wife, Alice, a former research technologist and Massachusetts native, has herself served UAMS for many years as a volunteer in the UAMS gift shop. Knowing what an asset UAMS is to the state, she wasn’t surprised when her husband of 50 years consulted with her about making a plan to give back to the University.
“During the course of my tenure at UAMS we’ve supported different projects, mostly in radiology,” noted Dr. Ferris. “But in the end, we decided to set up a charitable trust for UAMS that comes to fruition long after we die and after our children are taken care of. We specifically didn’t designate where that money should go because I don’t know what the medical center’s needs will be when that time comes.”
Ferris commented that setting up the trust gives them a sense of comfort and accomplishment.” “I think everyone should decide what is going to happen with their estate while they still can so that no one else decides for them,” added Ferris.
Dr. Ferris has also long encouraged others within the UAMS family to support the institution as well. “I’ve always said that if the individuals within an institution don’t support their own organization, it’s difficult to ask someone outside to support it.”
|
Dr. Ernest and Mrs. Alice Ferris
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
