University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ College of Medicine Names Dr. John Spollen, MD, Regional Associate Dean
· Filed In: Healthcare News
Dr. John Spollen will be the next regional associate dean for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' College of Medicine, the school announced Monday.
Spollen, 53, a professor and vice chairman for education in the medical school's department of psychiatry, will succeed Linda Worley, professor of psychiatry, in the role Jan. 1. He joined the UAMS faculty in 1999.
Worley will become chief wellness officer at the college. She had been regional associate dean since 2018.
The College of Medicine in Fayetteville has 62 students. It recently began an accelerated three-year medical program.
Spollen has received multiple awards for his work with students over the years, UAMS said in a news release.
"I'm excited for this leadership opportunity," he said. "It has been my dream since residency to have a career in medical student education. I was in charge of developing the initial curriculum for the campus in 2008, and it has been amazing to see the growth of the program over the years."
Susan Smyth, UAMS executive vice chancellor and dean of the College of Medicine, said Spollen was a "tremendous asset" while serving as interim chairman of the psychiatry department from June 2021 to February.
Amy Wenger, vice chancellor of the UAMS Northwest Regional campus, said she has worked with Spollen at the UAMS Psychiatry Research Institute.
"Dr. Spollen's expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we work to educate more medical students in the Northwest Arkansas region," she said.
Spollen originally studied at Auburn University, aiming to become an engineer, then switched to pre-medicine at Birmingham-Southern College, eventually receiving his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, according to UAMS. He completed his residency in psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and joined the UAMS faculty in 1999. He has held the rank of professor since 2014.
He has also worked at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.
The UAMS Northwest Arkansas regional campus has 288 medical, pharmacy, nursing and health professions students and nine clinics.
Spollen's annual salary will be $325,000, according to a UAMS spokesman.
About UAMS College of Medicine:
The vision of a medical school in Arkansas was once a dream for eight Little Rock physicians; one that was realized in what began as an independent medical department with six faculty members and 20 students in 1879. From its humble beginnings, the College of Medicine is now one of six academic units of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a world-renowned, comprehensive medical center with several centers of excellence including the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine and Neurosciences Institute, and the Psychiatric Research Institute. The Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System and Arkansas Children’s Hospital are affiliates of UAMS. There are also regional centers and clinics throughout the state.
The College of Medicine has grown from six departments to 29 departments and numerous specialty divisions and has graduated more than 10,500 physicians since its inception. Like the founders who set out to improve the practice of medicine, the College of Medicine continues to fulfill its unique role as the state’s foundation for education, research, clinical care and outreach efforts. It was their initial commitment to ensure that all Arkansans have access to excellent health care that still remains at the very heart of the institution. The College of Medicine’s many milestones are great achievements in both the history of the state and the history of medicine. These achievements solidify a tradition of an extraordinary legacy and one that continues to grow.
About Dr. John J. Spollen, MD:
Dr. John J. Spollen is a psychiatrist in North Little Rock, Arkansas and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System-Little Rock and Bradley County Medical Center. He received his medical degree from University of Alabama School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
Source:
News: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/oct/25/uams-college-of-medicine-names-spollen-regional/
Dr. John J. Spollen, MD: https://health.usnews.com/doctors/john-spollen-509389
UAMS College of Medicine: https://medicine.uams.edu/about/history/