LITTLE ROCK – Lorraine Frazier, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., has been named dean of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Nursing effective Oct. 1.

Frazier is currently assistant dean and chair of the Department of Nursing Systems in the School of Nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

She replaces Claudia Barone, Ed.D., R.N., who announced last year she planned to step down as dean to devote more time to teaching and patient care. Barone will serve 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 make her the ideal candidate we were seeking to fill this important position within the UAMS educational structure,” said UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D. “We are extremely grateful for everything Dr. Barone has done for UAMS and the profession during her time leading the College of Nursing, and we are looking forward to a smooth transition and continued advancement under Dr. Frazier’s leadership.”

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

Frazier, regarded as one of the nation’s biobanking experts, was selected for the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellows program in 2009. The three-year fellowship allows Frazier to further develop and strengthen leadership skills. 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.

Frazier explained her reasons for accepting the UAMS appointment as dean. “UAMS is obviously the keystone health care education institution in Arkansas, and the College of Nursing plays a significant leadership role in preparing RNs, Advanced Practice Nurses, and PhD nurses to serve the needs of the state. My professional background has been focused on research, as well as academic administration. Having grown up professionally in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, I am used to taking advantage of research collaboration opportunities with experts from all the other health disciplines. UAMS affords nursing faculty an outstanding opportunity to work side by side on research and practice with professional colleagues across the health care disciplines represented at the University.

“Nursing is exciting, Arkansas is exciting, and UAMS is exciting, so how could I help but be excited about being appointed as Dean at the UAMS College of Nursing.”