Cam Patterson recommended as next UAMS chancellor, Trustees to vote after holiday break

Cam Patterson, the chief operating officer at Weill-Cornell Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, has been recommended as the next University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences chancellor.

University of Arkansas System President Donald Bobbitt announced Friday (Dec. 22) he will recommend Patterson. The recommendation is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of, which will meet by telephone to consider Patterson’s hiring after the holiday break, according to a system statement.

Patterson has served as senior vice president and chief operating officer at Weill-Cornell Medical Center since 2014. He is a cardiologist and previously held numerous academic and clinical appointments at the University of North Carolina, including as physician-in-chief at the UNC Center for Heart and Vascular Care and executive director of the UNC McAllister Heart Institute, according to the UA.

The other finalist, Stephanie Gardner, interim chancellor, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost at UAMS, will continue to lead the institution through the transition.

“We were very fortunate to have two extremely high-quality candidates who both offered strong skill sets to help lead UAMS into a very crucial period in its continued tradition of innovation and excellence,” Bobbitt said in the statement. “In the end, Dr. Patterson’s experience in leading a very complex clinical enterprise and his varied background in clinical care, research and administrative leadership elevated his candidacy. I am thrilled to bring him on board and welcome he and his family to Arkansas.”

The finalists met last week with key leadership figures, faculty, staff and employees. Each candidate also conducted a public forum on campus where they presented their credentials and vision for UAMS and answered questions. The search was conducted by Bobbitt and a campus advisory search committee, along with the help of Isaacson Miller, a contracted national search firm.

“I am humbled and honored for the opportunity to lead UAMS during such an important time for academic health centers across the country,” Patterson said. “I know that we have many key initiatives underway and decisions to make in both the short- and long-term, and I am committed to working with our team to ensure we continue to provide the very best education, health care and research for the state.”

Dan Rahn, the fourth chancellor of UAMS, retired July 31. He held the position since 2009.