McElfish named vice chancellor at UAMS Northwest campus

FAYETTEVILLE -- Pearl McElfish, the top administrator at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest campus, has been named a vice chancellor effective Sept. 1, according to an announcement and a UAMS spokesman.

McElfish, 43, previously held the title of associate vice chancellor. She took over leadership of the UAMS Northwest following the 2016 retirement of Peter Kohler.

The Northwest campus opened in an old Washington County hospital building in 2007. Enrollment has increased to 244 students this fall, said Leslie Taylor, UAMS vice chancellor for communications and marketing. Taylor said the campus also hosts 55 residents, who are graduates still training in medicine.

McElfish earns a $231,000 salary, Taylor said. In an email, McElfish said she will "for now" continue in a leadership role with the UAMS Office of Community Health and Research, serving as its scientific director, and also as director of the UAMS Center for Pacific Islander Health, but later on others may fill those positions.

McElfish joined UAMS in 2010. She earned a bachelor's degree in speech communication from Arkansas Tech University and a doctorate in public policy from UA, plus a master's degree in community and economic development from the University of Central Arkansas and a master's degree in business administration from John Brown University.

UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson in a statement praised McElfish as "a visionary leader" leading efforts "to take health care in northwest Arkansas to new heights."

NW News on 10/17/2018

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