UAMS makes two interim leaders official

Two interim officials at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences have been appointed to their positions permanently, UAMS announced in a Tuesday news release.

Dr. Michelle Krause is the senior vice chancellor for the UAMS Health System and CEO of the system’s 535-bed hospital. Dr. Ahmed Abuabdou is the hospital’s chief clinical officer. Both have held those positions since September 2022.

“Their leadership and perspectives will be particularly valuable in our efforts to achieve our strategic goals to make Arkansas a healthier state and grow our national reputation for excellence,” UAMS Chancellor Dr. Cam Patterson said in the news release.

Krause oversees UAMS outpatient clinics in central Arkansas, digital health services, and clinics at eight regional UAMS campuses across the state in addition to the hospital in Little Rock. She joined UAMS in 2002 and has held several administrative positions, including vice chair for clinical programs within the Department of Internal Medicine.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Krause led the UAMS system’s testing and vaccination efforts, including setting up mobile clinics for both and a drive-thru triage care system.

Krause told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette last year that she saw value in continuing her clinical practice at UAMS while serving as an administrator. Her colleagues described her as “an exceptional physician” and a firm leader.

Abuabdou joined UAMS in 2012 and was previously associate chief medical officer. He leads the system’s Physician Advisor Group and chairs the Clinical Leadership Council.

As chief clinical officer, Abuabdou serves as a liaison between the health system’s medical and administrative staffs, according to the news release. Krause held this role from April to September 2022.

In the news release, Krause said Abuabdou “has strong relationships with staff at all levels that help ensure we provide excellent patient care to all patients at all times.”

Both Krause and Abuabdou teach at UAMS.

Krause received her medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at the University of North Carolina. She completed fellowships in nephrology and research nephrology at the University of North Carolina and earned her master’s in public health in epidemiology at the University of North Carolina School of Public Health.

Abuabdou completed medical school at Gulf Medical College, United Arab Emirates, earning degrees in medicine and surgery. He completed an internal medicine residency at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, Ohio, then completed a fellowship in blood banking and transfusion medicine at UAMS. He has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Nationally, Abuabdou serves as the vice president of operations for the American College of Physician Advisors.