Dr. Peter Emanuel Resigns from UAMS’ Rockefeller Cancer Institute

Peter Emanuel

Dr. Peter Emanuel said Friday that he will resign as director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences on July 31, making him the latest high-profile departure in a turbulent year.

“Peter came to UAMS in 2007 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he served as professor of medicine, genetics and biochemistry,” Stephanie Gardner, UAMS interim chancellor, said in an email Monday afternoon to UAMS’ employees. “During his time at UAMS, Peter has made many contributions and oversaw the addition of the Cancer Institute’s 12-story research and treatment tower that opened in 2010.”

UAMS spokeswoman Leslie Taylor told Arkansas Business on Monday that Emanuel “hasn’t made his plans known” for what he will do after he leaves UAMS. His annual salary was $500,000.

Since January, a number of top UAMS executives have resigned, after the state’s only teaching hospital announced it was looking for ways to cut its projected deficit. Those employees who have resigned or announced their plans to leave include Dr. Pope Moseley, who was executive vice chancellor and dean of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ College of Medicine. Also UAMS’ chief financial officer, Dan Riley, said in January that he was resigning. Riley, who also is the associate vice chancellor for clinical finance, however, agreed to stay on until the fiscal year ends on June 30.

UAMS’ vice chancellor for campus operations, Mark Kenneday, notified UAMS on Jan. 22 that he would retire on June 30.

Last week UAMS temporarily suspended its cardiac surgery program because its main heart surgeon, Dr. Gareth Tobler, retired. UAMS is interviewing five or six heart surgeons from across the country to replace Tobler, whose retirement was expected.

Gardner said UAMS will conduct a national search for a new cancer institute director to succeed Emanuel.

“I am very grateful to Peter for his work on behalf of UAMS and the people we serve,” Gardner said.