Frazier Takes Reins as Dean of the UAMS College of Nursing

By Nate Hinkel

Lorraine Frazier, Ph.D., R.N.

Oct. 13, 2011 | Lorraine Frazier, Ph.D., R.N., this week has officially started as dean of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Nursing, a post that already has her on the move.

Though she took over the position Oct. 1, she spent the first week in Boston, Mass., at a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellows meeting on leadership and problem solving methods, and has been traveling statewide in her second week.

“I am excited to finally be here at the UAMS College of Nursing,” Frazier said. “UAMS seems like such a great place to work and my experiences so far have been great. I am already moving quickly toward continuing the College’s goal of impacting nursing practice and research in Arkansas.”

Formerly assistant dean and chair of the Department of Nursing Systems at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing, Frazier replaced Claudia Barone, Ph.D., R.N., who stepped down toserve as professor in the College of Nursing and advanced practice partner in the Center for Nursing Excellence in the UAMS Medical Center’s Department of Nursing.

“Dr. Frazier’s strong background, skills and personal qualities made her the ideal candidate we were seeking to fill this extremely important position within the UAMS educational structure,” said UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D. “While we are extremely grateful for everything Dr. Barone has done for UAMS and the profession during her time leading the College of Nursing, we are looking forward to continued advancement under Dr. Frazier’s leadership.”

Frazier earned her doctorate degree in nursing in 2000 from UT Health Science Center at Houston, where she also completed a Master’s of Science in Clinical Research in 2005. She also holds a Master’s of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Houston (1998), a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma at Oklahoma City (1993) and an associate degree in nursing from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas (1978).

“I am passionate about the nursing profession,” Frazier said, “It is a very exciting opportunity and honor for me to be here working toward impacting nursing education through my position as dean.”

Frazier, regarded as one of the nation’s biobanking experts, was selected for the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Executive Nurse Fellows program in 2009. The three-year fellowship allows Frazier to further develop and strengthen leadership skills and advance research through the sharing of blood and tissue samples and related clinical data. She also completed the American Heart Association’s Fellowship in Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in 2004 and has won several research, education and leadership awards during her career.