Atlanta — March 24, 2009

The University of Arkansas Board of Trustees announced today the appointment of Dr. Daniel W. Rahn, currently president of the Medical College of Georgia (MCG), as the next chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, Ark.

University of Arkansas officials stated that following a national search, Rahn emerged as the leading candidate from among four finalists who visited UAMS during the past few weeks, said Alan Sugg, president of the University of Arkansas System.

“As I noted when the news first broke concerning the possibility of Dr. Rahn’s selection, his appointment is a testament to both his national stature and the Medical College of Georgia’s rising national reputation,” said University System of Georgia Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. “Dr. Rahn has provided stellar leadership in the health sciences, not just for MCG, but for the state as well. As a result, today the health of Georgians is on track for significant improvement. Dr. Rahn’s departure will be a tremendous loss for the people of Georgia and for MCG.”

Rahn has served as president of MCG since June 1, 2001. Since July 2006, Rahn also has served as senior vice chancellor for health and medical programs for the University System of Georgia.

Rahn has been instrumental over the past several years in the development of plans to increase the numbers of physicians trained in Georgia. The medical expansion effort has involved both MCG and the University of Georgia, with the first class of physicians to be trained on a new partnership campus in Athens slated for admission in fall 2010. The plan also will increase the number of medical students educated in Augusta as well as the number of third- and fourth-year medical students who receive a portion of their clinical education in southwest and southeast Georgia through clinical campuses based in Albany and Savannah. It also includes expanding graduate medical education so that more physicians can complete their specialty training in Georgia.

Rahn came to MCG from Yale University School of Medicine in 1991. Before assuming the presidency of MCG, he served as vice dean for clinical affairs for the MCG School of Medicine as well as senior vice president for medical affairs and chief medical officer for MCG Health, which manages MCG’s clinical facilities. He also is a full-time faculty member at MCG’s School of Medicine.

Davis said no timeline has been set for the search for MCG’s next president.

More information related to the announcement by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees can be found at : http://www.uamshealth.com/?id=4649&sid=1

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