Dr. Lee Archer
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock
Neurological diseases, especially stroke, affect Arkansans at an alarmingly high rate. No one knows why, but Dr. Lee Archer of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) comes closer than just about anyone else in the world.
Archer has spent his distinguished medical career as a neurological physician and researcher looking to unlock the mysteries of the body’s operating system in hopes of stemming the frequency of strokes and other neurological diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis.
“My mentor, Dr. Dennis Lucy, interested me in neurology,” Archer said. “His calm and pleasant demeanor, combined with a high level of clinical skill and compassion made me interested in spending time learning neurology from him.”
Archer, a native of El Dorado, graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in natural science. He attended medical school at UAMS and completed his internship and residency there and spent 21 years on the faculty.
Archer primarily sees patients and teaches medical students and residents how to take care of those with diseases of the nerves (myopathies), of the muscles (neuropathies) and various neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis, stroke, muscular dystrophy, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and myasthenia gravis.
He also adopted an early interest in multiple sclerosis, a neurological disease whereby the body’s immune system short-circuits and mistakenly sends white blood cells to attack nerve connectors in the brain and spine. Patients experience disruption of a variety of body functions as a result.
There’s still no cure, but there have been important breakthroughs.
“The local National Multiple Sclerosis Society representatives made me interested in being an MS specialist, by coming and visiting with me about it and encouraging me to adopt it as my area of interest,” Archer said. “I have never regretted that decision.”
For his dedication and expertise, the National MS Society presented Archer with its Hope Award in 2003. In 2007, he was named the first recipient of the Major and Ruth Nodini Endowed Chair in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Autoimmune Diseases at UAMS.
“I recognize that there are a lot of people who work for or with me that make me look good, because they are so good at what they do,” Archer said. “These include my wife — who is not with me at work, but takes care of everything in my life that is not related to work — advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, administrative assistants, administrators, schedulers, fellow neurologists and other specialists, students and residents in training.”
Highlights:
» Native of El Dorado
» Graduated from University of Arkansas, completed medical school, internship and residency at UAMS
» Nationally-recognized researcher in the study of multiple sclerosis
Awards and Honors:
» National MS Society’s Hope Award, 2003
» First recipient, Major and Ruth Nodini Endowed Chair in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Autoimmune Diseases, 2007
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