LITTLE ROCK - Richard Turnage, MD, has been named vice chancellor for clinical programs for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and CEO of UAMS Medical Center, effective Dec. 1.

He succeeds Roxane Townsend, MD, who left UAMS at the end of September.

Turnage currently serves as chief service line officer for the Integrated Clinical Enterprise, executive associate dean for clinical services in the College of Medicine, and professor in the college’s Department of Surgery.

He joined UAMS as chairman of the Department of Surgery in 2008, coming to the university from the Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center in Shreveport where he was professor of surgery, professor of physiology and medical director of the physician assistant program.

Turnage received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana Tech University, and his medical degree from the LSU School of Medicine. He completed his surgical residency and a research fellowship in pediatric surgery at the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers in Ann Arbor where he was also chief surgery resident. While chair of surgery at UAMS, he also served as interim chair for other departments in the College of Medicine while searches were conducted for permanent chairs. He served as interim dean of the College of Medicine until Pope L. Moseley, MD, was recruited as permanent dean.

Steppe Mette, chief clinical officer of the Integrated Clinical Enterprise, has been serving as interim vice chancellor and CEO since Townsend left.