The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Issue 1 Vol 115 | Page 10

HIGHLIGHTS From The Gala
Left to right: Bill Archer, Evelyn Deese, Sonya Archer, Susie LaRue,
Mike LaRue, Nancy Archer, and Lee Archer, MD.
At the President’s Gala that kicked off his
tenure as AMS president, Dr. Archer humbly
shared with attendees the joy he receives from
serving patients, colleagues, and mankind in
general. “It’s a blessing to be a doctor and to
practice medicine, and it’s a real blessing to
have a society like this that helps us look after
medicine in Arkansas,” he said. “These guys
work hard. David, I’m so proud to have you at
the helm leading this Society. It seems flawless
the way you guys work. You’ve represented us so
well, won so many battles for us in the Legisla-
ture. We thank you for that.
“It’s a blessing to be able to work with you
all, my colleagues. Today, I was driving here,
and my wife saw me smiling. She asked, ‘what
are you smiling about?’ I said ‘well, I got in an
argument yesterday.’ And she said, ‘why would
an argument make you smile?’ I said, ‘we were
arguing about the best way to treat a patient and
we were both very passionate about why we
each knew the right thing to do. It was fun to
recognize that we were arguing about the wel-
fare of somebody else.’”
Reflecting on his career and this profession
he shares with fellow members, the new leader
counted off a few more of his greatest blessings.
“The biggest influence in my career has been
my wife of 41 years, Nancy Archer. Her love and
support has kept me going through the ups and
downs, and I would not have accomplished half
of what I have done without her,” he said. “I had
a great childhood. My siblings and I were raised
in a family where our parents encouraged us to
do the best we could, to have faith in God, and to
treat others with kindness. It was a real blessing
to be raised in this family … most important is
the blessings of our heavenly father, from whom
all blessings flow. I share that with you, and I
thank you for tonight.”
Lee Archer, MD
Medical & Professional
Affiliations
American Medical Association
American Academy of Neurology
Arkansas Medical Society
Pulaski County Medical Society
Pulaski County Medical Exchange Board
The Dennis D. Lucy, JR., MD
Arkansas Neurological Society
University Professors of Neurology and
American Neurological Association
You may not know that …
I once worked on a theory uniting
particle physics and relativity.
You may be surprised that …
I shared a stage with Pavarotti.
My first night in New York City was in
1986. Our tour guide was working as an extra
at the Metropolitan Opera House. They need-
ed another extra and he asked me to help,
so I was literally standing on the stage as an
extra in the opera “Aida” that night, next to
Pavarotti, the famous tenor.
Connie Riley with AFMC and Dr. Lee Archer
Dr. Archer presents Dr. Cahill with gifts of
appreciation for her service.
10 • THE JOURNAL OF THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL SOCIETY
VOLUME 115