UAMS announced that Dr. Austin Porter, an assistant professor in the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management, has been named deputy state epidemiologist.
Porter is also the Arkansas Department of Health’s deputy chief science officer.
In his new role, Porter will support and advocate for the state’s epidemiologists, assist with data analysis, provide guidance on how to investigate outbreaks and provide support to Dr. Mike Cima, the state epidemiologist.
“I’ll also help with keeping epidemiologists aware of what’s going on in the state and nation in terms of various outbreaks and investigations,” Porter said in a news release.
Porter, a College Station native, earned his master’s degree and doctorate in public health from UAMS. He went to work for UAMS in 2010.
Porter is a member of the 2020 class of Arkansas Business 40 Under 40.
He said his new role at the Department of Health will allow him to bring additional real-world experiences to UAMS students.
“This will enhance their learning experience and provide them with insight into how practitioners use epidemiological practices in the field,” Porter said. “Having the state epidemiologist and deputy state epidemiologist as faculty in the college is unique, and our students will certainly be able to benefit from it.”
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