UAMS taps Townsend as medical center CEO

UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock has named Roxane Townsend as the hospital’s next chief executive officer, effective Feb. 1.

Townsend, who previously served as the assistant vice president for health systems at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, will also assume the role of vice chancellor for clinical programs at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the university said Thursday in a statement.

Townsend was ousted from her role at LSU in September as part of a series of leadership shakeups in the health system amid clashes with the administration of Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported at the time.

She will succeed Richard Pierson, who is retiring at the end of the year after a 31-year career at UAMS, the university said.

Melissa Fontaine, UAMS Medical Center's chief operating officer, will serve as interim CEO until Townsend arrives.

Townsend holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and an M.D. from LSU in New Orleans.

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University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Roxane Townsend

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