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The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

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Sheila Champlin – (901) 448-4957

 

 

William Hickerson, MD, Named Chief, Burn Surgery

in the College of Medicine, Memphis, at

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Memphis, Tenn. (May 23, 2008) – Robert Wallace, MD, chair of Plastic Surgery and Steve J. Schwab, MD, executive dean of the College of Medicine for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), have appointed William Hickerson, MD, chief of burn surgery for the College of Medicine. 

Dr. Hickerson, a nationally known plastic surgeon, is returning to his roots in Tennessee.  A graduate of the College of Medicine at UTHSC, Dr. Hickerson rose to the rank of professor of Surgery at the UT Health Science Center before leaving for the famed Joseph Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga., the largest private burn center in the United States.  He subsequently became professor of Surgery and director of the Burn Center at the University of Arkansas.  He is board certified in surgery and plastic surgery and currently serves as the medical director of the Burn Center for the Arkansas Children’s Hospital. 

Dr. Hickerson is nationally known as a leading burn surgeon and has published extensively in peer reviewed journals.  UTHSC, with the Regional Medical Center of Memphis (The MED), administers the Firefighters Regional Burn Center on the MED campus.  This center, one of three in the state, is the region’s only comprehensive burn care unit.

“I have known Dr. Hickerson my entire career as a plastic surgeon,” said Dr. Wallace.  “He has knowledge and passion for comprehensive burn care that are unmatched.  The Memphis community and the UT Health Science Center Department of Plastic Surgery are very fortunate to have him back again,” stated Dr. Wallace. 

 “Almost 100,000 Americans are hospitalized each year due to serious burns.  The West Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas regions have one of the highest incidences of death by fire in the United States,” observed Chief Executive Officer for the Regional Medical Center Sylvester L. Reeder, III.  “This reality has increased the need for not only a nationally known burn center, but also for a nationally known surgeon, scientist and researcher to lead this Center of Excellence.  The recruitment of Dr. Hickerson to the burn center will strengthen the treatment for the citizens of Memphis and all of Mississippi and Arkansas who have or will be affected by serious burns," Reeder explained.

“We are fortunate to have attracted Dr. Hickerson to return to Memphis.  He brings substantial knowledge of our area, as well as national stature in burn surgery and burn medicine,” stated Dr. Schwab.

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is focused on a four-tier mission of education, research, clinical care and public service, all in support of a single goal: to improve the health of Tennesseans.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.  UTHSC has additional College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy campuses in Knoxville and a College of Medicine campus in Chattanooga.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

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