
Christopher Westfall | UAMS College of Medicine
Dr. Christopher Westfall has been appointed as the new dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Westfall has been serving as interim dean since February, when the former dean, Dr. Pope Moseley, stepped down to pursue his research.
“I am honored that the chancellor and my colleagues continue to put their trust in me as we work together to educate exceptional physicians, advance research that transforms health care and improves health, and ensure that Arkansans receive the very best medical care,” Westfall said.
Westfall joined the UAMS faculty in 1997 and was appointed as chair of the UAMS Department of Ophthalmology and director of the Jones Eye Institute in 2009. He has served in multiple leadership roles in Little Rock’s medical community, including vice chairman and medical practice leader at UAMS; chief of the oculoplastic surgical services at UAMS Medical Center, the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital and Arkansas Children’s Hospital; chief of service at Arkansas Children’s Hospital; and chairman and medical director of the Ophthalmic Medical Technology Program in the UAMS College of Health Professions. Westfall served as UAMS chief of medical staff from 2014 to 2016. In 2008 he was invested as the inaugural holder of the Pat Walker Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology. Westfall is a retired colonel with the United States Air Force, where he served as chief consultant in ophthalmology to the U.S. Air Force surgeon general.
Westfall received his undergraduate degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and earned his medical degree at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He completed a residency in general surgery at Keesler U.S. Air Force Medical Center in Mississippi. He was certified by the American Board of Surgery and awarded fellowship in the American College of Surgeons. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and a two-year fellowship in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School in Boston. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Craig Haskin is the new chief operating officer at MedEvolve in Little Rock.
Haskin was formerly senior vice president at Access Healthcare Systems. He brings more than 30 years of experience in health care and finance companies to his new position, and will be responsible for strategic execution, operational development and continuing to build the company’s internal infrastructure.
Gary Paxson has been appointed to the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care board of directors in Little Rock.
Paxson has been named the next CEO of White River Health System in Batesville. He has more than 23 years of health care experience, including positions in nursing, health care information systems and executive management.
See more of this week’s Movers & Shakers, and submit your own announcement at ArkansasBusiness.com/Movers.