Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

UNLV names Atkinson founding dean of medical school

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Barbara Atkinson

Dr. Barbara Atkinson, who has spent the last 18 months shaping the region's first public medical school, has been named founding dean of the UNLV School of Medicine.

University officials announced the appointment today, praising Atkinson's efforts thus far to build the medical school that hopes to begin classes in 2017. Her yearly salary will be $506,000, officials said.

Atkinson, a former medical school administrator in Kansas, ended her short-lived retirement in May 2014 to become the planning dean for UNLV's medical school.

Since then, she has been busy crafting the school's curriculum, garnering local and legislative support, hiring faculty and staff and fundraising. Under her leadership, the university raised $13.5 million in two months earlier this year to fund 135 scholarships for future medical students, including the school's entire inaugural class.

"What makes Barbara unique is her ability to lead people," Nevada System of Higher Education chancellor Daniel Klaich said in a statement. "She's authentic and honest. As a result, she has forged successful relationships with state leaders, lawmakers, community stakeholders and UNLV leadership — fundamental for the school's long-term success."

Atkinson arrived with nearly 40 years of experience as a pathologist, researcher, educator and medical school leader. She previously served as a vice chancellor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where she focused on ensuring the school met regional needs.

Atkinson has been tasked with doing the same in Southern Nevada, which is plagued by a physician shortage. As such, her guiding question while building the school's curriculum has been this: How can we keep newly-minted doctors in town?

So far, Atkinson has announced several strategies designed to foster community attachment among students, including a requirement for them to volunteer with community organizations. The medical students then will spend their third year working — and learning — in one of three outpatient clinics located in North Las Vegas, Henderson and central Las Vegas.

"Barbara has worked tirelessly with academic and health care leaders across the state to craft a vision for the school that I truly believe will help shape the future of health care in Southern Nevada," UNLV President Len Jessup said in a statement. "Barbara's passion for this community combined with her experience at all levels of health care and keen sense for what it takes to build a successful medical school is crucial to our continued momentum."

The UNLV School of Medicine was established in August 2014 after the NSHE Board of Regents approved a two-year startup budget for the school. Last month, the Legislative Interim Finance Committee released $18.2 million to the medical school that the Legislature had approved during its session.

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