FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Communications and Marketing

Sheila Champlin – (901) 448-4957 or

Dena Owens – (901) 448-4072

 

 

J. Lacey Smith, MD, Named Interim Dean for the

College of Medicine, Memphis Campus, at

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

____________________________________________________________

 

Memphis, Tenn. (September 18, 2009) – Steve J. Schwab, MD, executive dean of the College of Medicine for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), announced the appointment of J. Lacey Smith, MD, as interim dean for the College of Medicine, Memphis campus.  Dr. Smith will assume the duties of interim dean effective October 1 as Dr. Schwab transitions to become interim chancellor of UTHSC.

“Dr. Smith is the ideal candidate to fill this interim position because of the depth and breadth of his experience, and the respect he has earned from the faculty and administration on this campus,” stated Dr. Schwab.

Currently, Dr. Smith serves as the associate dean of Clinical Affairs for the College of Medicine, and the chief medical officer and executive vice-president for the UT Medical Group, Inc.  Prior to assuming those duties, from 2006 to 2008, Dr. Smith ably served as the interim chairman of the Department of Medicine for the College of Medicine in Memphis.  He is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, and came to UTHSC in 1989 from Baylor University.

Dr. Schwab noted that throughout his years at UTHSC, Dr. Smith has contributed greatly to sustaining the quality and excellence that the college embraces through clinical care, education and research. 

“I am honored to accept the responsibilities of the interim position,” Dr. Smith stated.  “I am also aware of the challenges facing the College of Medicine and its individual faculty, but I fully expect the enthusiastic drive and responsiveness of the college to continue.”

UT Medical Group (UTMG) is the private group practice affiliated with the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine faculty.  A not-for-profit, non-tax-supported group practice, UTMG is dedicated to quality patient care, medical education, and medical research.  With more than 350 clinicians, UTMG is the largest physician group in the region.

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care, and public service.  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 colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy plus an Allied Health Sciences unit in Knoxville, as well as a College of Medicine campus in Chattanooga.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

###