Dr. Kenneth A. Heiles, once described as “the key hire” for the proposed osteopathic school in Fort Smith, quietly left in October as the college prepares for its fall 2017 opening.
Kyle Parker, president and CEO of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, declined to say why Heiles left, saying it was an “employee matter.”
In a 2014 news release, Parker praised Heiles, saying, “He will be instrumental in developing graduate medical education … for both the state of Arkansas and the nation.”
Heiles didn’t return a message left on his home phone.
Heiles was replaced by Dr. Ray E. Stowers, who is the provost of ACHE and the dean of the college. Parker said Stowers, who is a past president of the American Osteopathic Association and had been a consultant for ACHE, started before Heiles left.
Heiles isn’t the only administrative change at the college.
Last week, Dr. Natasha Bray, who was the associate dean of clinical medicine at the school, left to join another medical college. Parker said he didn’t know the college she moved to, and Bray couldn’t be reached for comment.
A replacement has been found for Bray, who was one of four deans at the college. Parker said he couldn’t say who that person was because “they’re still under contract. But they’ll be here Jan. 1.”
ACHE has hired a total of 21 employees in the last two months, which include faculty and staff. That brings the total number of ACHE employees to about 45.
Meanwhile, Parker said the school has received 4,000 applications from prospective students for its 150 slots. Parker said the school officials are interviewing about 25 students a week for the positions.
Classes are expected to start in August.
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