Administration
» Officers and Staff

Debra Fiser, M.D.
Dean

Debra Fiser, M.D., has devoted her career to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the College of Medicine, her medical school alma mater. She became dean in September 2006 after serving 11 years as professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics.

Dean Fiser was born in Newport and grew up in West Memphis. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and received her medical degree from the UAMS College of Medicine in 1977. Dr. Fiser completed an internship and residency in pediatrics at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine and a critical care fellowship at the University of Florida College of Medicine. She is a board-certified specialist in pediatric critical care.

One of Dr. Fiser’s earliest achievements after joining the College of Medicine faculty in 1981 was to start UAMS’ Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Section and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH), UAMS’ comprehensive clinical, research and teaching affiliate. She served as chief of pediatric critical care medicine at UAMS from 1981 to 1995, when she was appointed chair of the college’s Department of Pediatrics and chief of pediatrics at ACH. She holds additional appointments in the departments of Anesthesiology and Psychiatry.

During Dr. Fiser’s tenure as chair, the department’s faculty grew by more than 40 percent, and its budget tripled to over $72 million. Pediatrics is the largest academic department on campus and one of the largest and highest regarded pediatric departments in the nation.

Dr. Fiser is past president of the Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs, a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics and an elected member of the prestigious American Pediatric Society. She has won numerous national, state and campus awards, including the Women in Medicine Silver Achievement Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges. She helped found the UAMS Women’s Faculty Development Caucus in 1989, and was awarded the group’s inaugural Outstanding Woman Faculty Award in 2001.

Lawrence Cornett, Ph.D.
Executive Associate Dean for Research
Vice Chancellor for Research

Lawrence Cornett, Ph.D., joined the UAMS College of Medicine faculty in 1980 as an assistant professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics after earning his doctoral degree in physiology from the University of California, Davis and completing a postdoctoral fellowship in the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the University of California, San Francisco. Promoted to associate professor in 1985 and professor in 1990, he continues to serve as a professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, as well as being named as the UAMS Vice Chancellor for Research in 2007. As Director of the Arkansas INBRE Program and past director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, he has worked to expand and strengthen the biomedical research infrastructure statewide by developing a multidisciplinary research network, improving access to new technologies, and enhancing science-based economic development in Arkansas.  Dr. Cornett continues to direct an active research laboratory focused on the role of beta2-adrenergic receptors in pulmonary function and the hormonal regulation of stress responses at the level of the anterior pituitary gland.

Charles W. Smith, M.D.
Executive Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs

Charles W. Smith, M.D., completed his residency training in family medicine. He was previously a family practice residency director and served as president of the American Board of Family Practice from 1991 to 1996. He came to UAMS as Executive Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Medical Director for University Hospital. Dr. Smith is interested in computing in medicine, sports medicine, and in studying the psychosocial aspects of medical illnesses. He also maintains a clinical practice and serves in the family practice teaching program.

Richard P. Wheeler, M.D.
Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Richard P. Wheeler, M.D., was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and received his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1972. Later that year, Dr. Wheeler entered the University of Arkansas College of Medicine and graduated with his M.D. degree in 1976. Continuing at Arkansas, he completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in nephrology. He is board certified in both specialty areas. His interest in medical education developed while he served as the director of the junior medicine clerkship. Dr. Wheeler joined the College's administration as Assistant Dean for Undergraduate and Graduate Medical Education in 1987, and assumed his current position in 1989.  He is a past National Chair of the Group on Student Affairs with the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Olan Nugent, M.S.
Executive Associate Dean for Finance and Administration

Born in Shanghai, China, Olan Nugent grew up the son of a career military officer. He received his undergraduate and master's degrees in engineering in operations management from the University of Arkansas. His career in health and human services started in 1973 in the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Since then, he has served in an administrative capacity as an administrator and acting director of the State's Medicaid agency. He joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1984 as the Administrator in the College of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry. He joined the Dean's Office in 1998 and is responsible for the operational oversight, planning and finances for all business administrative aspects of the College of Medicine