March 14, 2011 | March 14, 2011 | Douglas L. Murphy, Ph.D., new dean of the UAMS College of Health Related Professions, sees the college in strong shape with opportunities for growth.

Settling into his new academic home, Murphy said he was impressed with the warm and positive environment at UAMS. “You can really sense there’s optimism about what is going on at UAMS.”

Murphy started as dean Feb. 15, succeeding Ronald Winters, Ph.D., who retired. Winters was named dean emeritus by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees.

Murphy said the CHRP deanship appealed to him because of the strength of the college and its programs.

“Dr. Winters was such a proponent of the college and allied health that the college has a strong national presence,” he said. “There are good programs here and the potential for continued growth.”

The College of Health Related Professions offers 26 degrees and certificates across 17 professions from audiology to surgical technology. The college had an enrollment of 665 students for the 2010-2011 academic year – including those registered in graduate-level programs through the UAMS Graduate School.

Murphy said that an early focus of his will be developing more financial support for the college through scholarships or other gifts. With the growing need for health professionals, he said, the college will need the resources to continue expanding its enrollment.

“Part of the difficulty we face is that people don’t always know about allied health, so we’ve got to spread the word about how the various allied health professions are critical to the modern health care team,” he said.

He said he is pleased with the college’s facilities, which include 72,000 square-feet across a complex of buildings formerly part of the Arkansas State Hospital. The college moved into the renovated buildings in 2009.

“There is lots of nice space. It’s a luxury that you usually don’t have at a university and it gives us room to expand,” he said.

Murphy previously served as interim dean of the School of Health Professions at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and brings more than 10 years experience as an administrator in higher education.

“Dr. Murphy’s background in academic leadership and the allied health professions made him a perfect fit for our college,” said UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D., when he announced Murphy’s selection in October 2010.

Murphy also had served as associate dean at the San Antonio allied health school since 1999 and was the school’s key administrative officer for academic and student affairs. He was an active faculty member in the departments of Occupational Therapy and Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

Asked how he would describe his leadership style, Murphy talked about how he liked the collaborative process.

“I love to work with teams of people to accomplish goals,” he said. “I am motivated by the creativity of the team.”