AMS - 221219 - AMS Journal Winter 2023 - Vol 119 - Issue 3 - single pages | Page 24

MEMBER NEWS

UAMS Mourns Loss of Dean of the College of Medicine , Susan Smyth , MD , PhD

PHOTOS BY : EVAN LEW
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is sad to announce that Susan Smyth , MD , PhD , executive vice chancellor and dean of the College of Medicine died December 31 , 2022 , after a battle with cancer . Smyth is survived by her husband Andrew and their sons , Edward and William .
“ Susan was a remarkable leader , colleague and friend who will be deeply missed by many across our state , especially those of us fortunate enough to work with her ,” wrote Chancellor Cam Patterson , MD , MBA . “ Her death is a great loss for UAMS , our state , and all who knew her .”
Joining UAMS in 2021 , Smyth , a nationally respected cardiologist and translational researcher , specialized in arterial and venous thrombosis , authoring more than 200 publications and a dozen textbooks . Patterson said Smyth was a “ fantastic scientist ” and “ incredible leader ” whose research helped advance the understanding of heart disease and identified new therapies to treat people suffering from it . Patterson also credited Smyth as a trailblazer for women in academic medicine who became president of the Association of University Cardiologists .
This past November , Smyth was invested at UAMS in the Arkansas Medical Society Distinguished Dean ’ s Chair , an endowment that is among the highest academic honors a university can bestow on a faculty member . The chair was established in 2017 by the College of Medicine and the Arkansas Medical Society for the college ’ s most important leadership post . In addition to her investiture during the ceremony , her husband Andrew Morris , PhD , professor in the UAMS Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , also was invested in the Mehta Stebbins Chair in Cardiovascular Research .
During her tenure at UAMS , Smyth launched and expanded numerous initiatives to improve health in Arkansas while also increasing the College of Medicine ’ s national standings in primary care and other aspects of education , research , and clinical care . She made the pursuit of health equity , diversity , and inclusion a top priority for the college . Smyth also helped guide the state through the covid-19 pandemic and wanted to improve health outcomes in rural and underserved communities .
“ She will be remembered not just today , not just a year from now . She will be remembered 50 years from now ,” said Patterson .
UAMS has appointed G . Richard Smith , MD , former dean of the College of Medicine and founding director of the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute , to serve as interim dean . ■
Representing AMS at the Investiture included ( back L to R ): AMS EVP David Wroten , Dr . James Hunt , Dr . Omar Atiq , Dr . Amy Cahill , Dr . Lee Archer , Dr . Danny Wilkerson , AMS President Dr . Seth Barnes , and Dr . Gina Drobena . Dr . Susan Smyth ( seated ) is flanked by Stephanie Gardner and Dr . Cam Patterson from UAMS .
92 THE JOURNAL OF THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL SOCIETY