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State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly 2
Regular Session, 2025 SR 2 3
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By: Senator Irvin 5
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SENATE RESOLUTION 8
TO CONGRATULATE THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL SOCIETY; AND TO 9
CELEBRATE 2025 AS "THE YEAR OF THE ARKANSAS 10
PHYSICIAN". 11
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Subtitle 14
TO CONGRATULATE THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL 15
SOCIETY; AND TO CELEBRATE 2025 AS "THE 16
YEAR OF THE ARKANSAS PHYSICIAN". 17
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WHEREAS, one hundred fifty (150) years ago, in October 1875, two 19
hundred twenty-five (225) Arkansas physicians formed what is now the Arkansas 20
Medical Society; and 21
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WHEREAS, from the inception of the Arkansas Medical Society, the 23
physician members of the Arkansas Medical Society have made it their mission 24
to advance the art and science of medicine and improve the health and well -25
being of the citizens of the State of Arkansas; and 26
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WHEREAS, over the past one hundred fifty (150) years, the physicians of 28
the Arkansas Medical Society have been instrumental in addressing the health 29
needs of our state, and the monumental efforts of these physicians, while 30
often obscured by the passage of time, deserve our lasting appreciation; and 31
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WHEREAS, the efforts of the physicians of the Arkansas Medical Society 33
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(1) The creation of the state's first State Board of Health in 35
1879; 36 SR2
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(2) The development of the first medical licensing laws in 1893 1
and 1903; 2
(3) The establishment of the Arkansas Tuberculosis Sanitarium in 3
1909; 4
(4) Educational efforts to alleviate typhoid fever and malaria 5
in 1917; 6
(5) The creation of the Medical Practice Act in 1929; 7
(6) The creation of Arkansas Blue Cross in 1948; 8
(7) Sponsorship of the statewide polio vaccination program in 9
1958; and 10
(8) Supporting the establishment of what is now the College of 11
Medicine of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; and 12
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WHEREAS, throughout the years, the physicians of the Arkansas Medical 14
Society have supported the General Assembly in its efforts to enact 15
legislation designed to improve public health and access to appropriate 16
medical care, including: 17
(1) The Patient Protection Act of 1995; 18
(2) The Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act of 2006; 19
(3) The development of the statewide trauma system in 2009; and 20
(4) Common-sense reforms designed to reduce burdensome insurance 21
carrier practices that delay the delivery of medical care; and 22
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WHEREAS, during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID -19) pandemic, the Arkansas 24
Medical Society, in cooperation with the Governor’s office, organized a 25
statewide distribution effort to provide personal protective equipment to 26
medical clinics struggling to safely care for patients; and 27
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WHEREAS, for over fifty (50) years, the Arkansas Medical Society has 29
provided volunteer medical care to members of the House of Representatives 30
and the Senate, State Capitol staff, and visitors to the State Capitol during 31
sessions of the General Assembly through what is now known as the “Doctor of 32
the Day” program; and 33
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WHEREAS, the Dr. H. Elvin Shuffield Capitol Infirmary, sponsored by the 35
Arkansas Medical Society and located on the third floor of the State Capitol, 36 SR2
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was officially dedicated by the Seventy -Second General Assembly on April 16, 1
1980, 2
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NOW THEREFORE, 4
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY -FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE 5
STATE OF ARKANSAS: 6
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THAT the Senate congratulate the Arkansas Medical Society for its one 8
hundred fifty (150) years of service to the people of Arkansas and celebrate 9
2025 as “The Year of the Arkansas Physician”. 10
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