By Spencer Watson

May 10, 2021 | LITTLE ROCK — Four faculty leaders within the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine have been appointed as vice chairs within the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

David Bumpass, M.D., has been named the vice chair for research; Steven Cherney, M.D., has been named the vice chair for education; Simon Mears, M.D., Ph.D., has been named the vice chair for quality and safety; and Theresa Wyrick, M.D., has been named the vice chair for faculty development.

“The future of our department brightens with the addition of these powerhouse leaders who are committed to our mission and to making our programs stronger,” said C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Bumpass, who joined UAMS in 2015, is an orthopaedic spine surgeon and associate professor of orthopaedic surgery and neurosurgery. As vice chair for research he will oversee the growth and development of the UAMS Orthopaedics labs. He will encourage the pursuit of published research by both faculty and students, work to secure funding for research investigations and translate basic science research success into clinical treatment.

Cherney, who joined UAMS in 2017, is an orthopaedic trauma surgeon and an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery. As vice chair for education, he will provide leadership and direction for the residency program and make sure residents’ educational needs are met, as well as providing oversight and direction for medical students and those in the physician assistant program.

Mears, who joined UAMS in 2015, is a joint replacement surgeon and professor of orthopaedic surgery. As vice chair of quality and safety, he will lead efforts to measure quality and implement new ways to improve patient outcomes.

Wyrick, who joined UAMS in 2009, is an orthopaedic hand surgeon and associate professor of orthopaedic surgery. As vice chair for faculty development, she will oversee efforts to implement a faculty mentorship program, as well as work on faculty retention efforts and leadership development.

UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute and Institute for Digital Health & Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise including its hospital, regional clinics and clinics it operates or staffs in cooperation with other providers. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. U.S. News & World Report named UAMS Medical Center the state’s Best Hospital; ranked its ear, nose and throat program among the top 50 nationwide; and named six areas as high performing — COPD, colon cancer surgery, heart failure, hip replacement, knee replacement and lung cancer surgery. UAMS has 2,876 students, 898 medical residents and four dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.

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