Press Release

Washington Regional Medical Center

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FAYETTEVILLE — Washington Regional is pleased to welcome three new members to its Board of Directors. The new members are (in alpha order) Dan Ferritor, Tim Helder and Anthony Hui, M.D.

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Dan Ferritor, former chancellor at the University of Arkansas, is now vice president for Academic Affairs for the University of Arkansas System. Over the past 32 years, Mr. Ferritor has served as the chancellor, vice chancellor for academic affairs, chair of the department of sociology and faculty member of sociology at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Following his 11-year tenure as chancellor, Mr. Ferritor returned to the department of sociology to teach in fall 1998. As a testament to his commitment to education, Mr. Ferritor was awarded the University of Arkansas Alumni Association’s Faculty Achievement Award for Teaching and Research in 1984. As an expression of the university’s esteem, he was awarded the Chancellor’s Medal in 2000 and was the first to hold the Bernice Jones Endowed Chair in Community.

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In addition, the newly established Dan Ferritor Community Lecture pays tribute to the legacy of Mr. Ferritor, whose tenure laid a firm foundation for the university’s continued progress in the 21st Century. Among his many achievements is the leadership he provided during the campaign to save Old Main, rallying the state of Arkansas to contribute nearly $13 million toward restoring Arkansas’ symbol of higher education.

“We are pleased and honored to welcome Dan as a member of our board,” states Washington Regional President and CEO, Bill Bradley. “His visionary planning abilities and outstanding leadership skills make him an invaluable asset to our healthcare system and to our community.”

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Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder is a long-time resident of West Fork where he resides with his wife Holly and two of their three children. The Helders’ eldest son is married and lives in Little Rock with his family.

Sheriff Helder’s career in law enforcement began in 1979 when he joined the Washington County Sheriff’s office as a dispatcher. After attending the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy, Sheriff Helder’s began moving forward as he gained experience in positions of increasing responsibility with the Sheriff’s office and then the Fayetteville Police Department.

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Sheriff Helder has completed some of the most prestigious law enforcement training available including the FBI National Academy, a 10-week training course for police administrators from around the globe. He was instrumental in helping to develop and manage programs such as the Drug Task Force, Bike Patrol, Office of Professional Standards and Physical Fitness for law enforcement.

After 21 years with Fayetteville Police Department, Helder re-joined the Washington County Sheriff’s office as Chief Deputy in 2003. His responsibilities included overall administration for enforcement, detention and civil process; as well as development of policies and programs to aid in further professional development.

Helder was elected the 39th Sheriff of Washington County in 2004. Since then, Helder has undertaken responsibility for the management of a new detention facility, which can hold up to 710 detainees. Additionally, the Sheriff’s office recruited and hired 85 new employees, bringing total staffing to 293. Patrol services have increased with the placement of additional field deputies in rural community areas. Sheriff Helder will begin his second term as Sheriff January 2007.

“As a veteran law enforcement official, Sheriff Helder has a exceptionally in-depth understanding of our community and its residents,” notes board member Ann Rosso. “We look forward to the unique perspective that his presence as a member of our board will lend to the continued development of our healthcare system.”

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Dr. Anthony Hui, pathologist, is described by his peers as one of the busiest, most committed and energetic physicians in Northwest Arkansas. His involvement in the community is multi-faceted and extensive, working tirelessly to improve the level of excellence in healthcare for Northwest Arkansas and beyond.

A former Chief of Medical Staff at Washington Regional Medical Center, Dr. Hui began to carve his now-significant niche into the landscape of Northwest Arkansas healthcare over two decades ago when he migrated from Hong Kong to Fayetteville to study chemistry at the University of Arkansas where he graduated with honors in 1974. Dr. Hui went on to complete his doctorate of medicine degree at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences in Little Rock in 1978. While at UAMS, he won multiple awards, including the Senior Buchanan Key Award as the most outstanding medical student in the Senior Class of 1978. That same year, Dr. Hui became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Following graduation, Dr. Hui accepted an internship in pathology at Los Angeles County University of Southern California Medical Center, one of the country’s most prestigious programs. He subsequently completed his residency in the same program and went on to serve as Supervisor of Residents in the Pathology Department from 1982 to 1983, and as Staff Pathologist at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology from 1983 to 1985.

In the realm of business expansion and providing state of the art pathology services to Northwest Arkansas, Dr. Hui is the only physician to have organized complete coverage of all hospitals in Northwest Arkansas, with comprehensive pathology services provided to Siloam Springs, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, Berryville, and Fayetteville. Always focused on the goal of improving and providing the best pathology and laboratory services possible, no other single group provides services of this nature.

In addition to his many accomplishments as a member of the civilian community, Dr. Hui recently retired from the United States Navy Reserve after more than 20 years of service. He served in the Gulf War, attained the rank of Captain and received multiple commendations.

Dr. Hui is a staunch advocate for continuing education within our community. He makes himself widely available, providing educational lectures to nurses, medical residents and staff, laboratory staff, and community organizations. He maintains the Pathology Fellowship Program, which provides an opportunity for college students interested in entering the medical field a chance to experience healthcare firsthand.

“Tony Hui’s profound commitment to quality healthcare is matched only by his contagious enthusiasm for life and our community,” states Bradley, “Several of our board members had the pleasure of working with him when he was Chief of Staff at the medical center, and we are all looking forward to having the opportunity work with him again. Having Dr. Hui, Dan Ferritor and Sheriff Helder join our board is an exciting way to begin a brand new year.”

Two members of the board will no longer serve in an active capacity. A former board president, Doyle Baker has served since 1988. Mr. Baker will serve on the board in an emeritus capacity for an additional year. Dr. Roger Montgomery has accepted a position with Washington Regional as a hospitalist and has resigned from the board after serving continuously since 2000.

In light of the continued growth at Washington Regional, board members voted to establish a new board seat, bringing the total membership to not less than eight, not more than 10. The new board members will begin their terms of service in January 2007.

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