LouAnn Woodward, MD, FACEP

A native of Carrollton, Mississippi, LouAnn Woodward earned her bachelor degree in microbiology from Mississippi State University and doctor of medicine degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. She completed her residency and board certification in emergency medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and has served on the faculty since 1995. In addition to her faculty duties of teaching, research, and patient care, during her career at the medical center she has served in a number of administrative roles including emergency medicine residency program director, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Medicine, Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Vice Dean of the School of Medicine.

She currently serves as a tenured professor of emergency medicine as well as Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, and Dean of the School of Medicine.

As dean for the school of medicine, she has responsibility and oversight for all aspects of the day to day operations of the school of medicine. In the last ten years, enrollment has increased, student performance measures have met or exceeded national means, and a new education building will open in the summer of 2017. Under her leadership in 2012, the school of medicine received full accreditation with no areas of noncompliance with the accreditation standards, a first in the school's history.

As vice chancellor, Dr. Woodward has broad responsibilities for all three missions of the medical center serving in the No. 1 position to the system. The medical center has enjoyed unprecedented growth and success in the last 10 years. Key accomplishments include: the full implementation of the first ever system-wide electronic health record, consolidation into the medical center the previously separate faculty practice plan, establishment of a department of dermatology, department of preventive medicine, the Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities, the John D. Bower School of Population Health, and the Manning Family Fund.

Dr. Woodward is a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges Council of Deans Administrative Board and serves on the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body for medical education programs in the United States and Canada. She is currently the chair-elect of LCME and will serve as chair in 2017-18.

Dr. Woodward's unique combination of experience as a professor, a physician, and seasoned administrator has led to honors ranging from awards for teaching to recognition as one of Mississippi's leading businesswomen. Her personal and professional commitment to the medical center and deep understanding of health care in Mississippi have helped to keep the medical center at the forefront of health care, education, and research both in our state and nationwide.