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Former Family Medicine chair named permanent Vice Chancellor for University of Missouri Health System

University of Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton announced March 10 that Harold (Hal) Williamson Jr. has been named the permanent vice chancellor for the University of Missouri Health System. Williamson has served as interim vice chancellor since September 2008.

"Dr. Williamson has provided outstanding leadership during this interim period," Deaton said. "Given his devotion to the highest standards in health care and the health sciences and his ability to successfully integrate the educational and clinical areas of this complex organization, he is the perfect choice to continue in this position on a permanent basis."

The MU Health System comprises University of Missouri Health Care, the School of Medicine and University Physicians, Sinclair School of Nursing and School of Health Professions.

"Dr. Williamson has done a great job during the past six months by quickly creating a more collaborative and effective health sciences organization, and I am pleased that he has agreed to accept the permanent appointment," said University of Missouri System President Gary Forsee. "Hal's continuing leadership marks a significant step forward in developing the potential of the university's health system."

Previous to this appointment, Williamson spent 10 years as chair of MU's Curtis W. and Ann H. Long Department of Family and Community Medicine, which has been consistently ranked as one of the top three family medicine programs in the United States. Williamson attributes the department's success, in part, to the careful balancing of academic and patient care missions. Before becoming chair, Williamson directed MU's family practice residency program. Prior to that, he served as a visiting scholar at the University of Washington, where he helped rural communities develop health care services. He also served as director of the MU Area Health Education Center for 11 years.

"It's an honor and a privilege to serve as vice chancellor of University of Missouri Health System," Williamson said. "I appreciate the Chancellor's support and the opportunity to work with an outstanding leadership team to advance the mission of the health system."

Williamson received his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University Medical School in Cleveland and completed residency training at the University of Minnesota. He was a member of the first class of MU's Robert Wood Johnson Academic Family Practice Fellowship Program in 1982 and has served on MU's family medicine faculty since that time.

March 2009