FAYETTEVILLE —  After 22 years as Washington Regional’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David Ratcliff will transition out of the role on December 31. Ratcliff, who first joined Washington Regional in 1997, will continue to practice part-time at Washington Regional Plaza Internal Medicine while also continuing to provide oversight of graduate medical education programs and serve as core faculty in the UAMS/Washington Regional Internal Medicine Residency Program. Ratcliff has made many lasting contributions during his tenure as Chief Medical Officer at Washington Regional, including playing an
integral role in the development of key service lines and establishing a graduate medical education program that will create a pipeline of physicians for years to come in Northwest Arkansas.

 

With Ratcliff’s transition, Chief Quality Officer Dr. Anthony Williams will assume the role of Chief Medical Officer. In his new position, Williams will be responsible for quality management initiatives, oversight of medical staff services and leading the medical staff at Washington Regional Medical Center. Williams has worked at Washington Regional for more than 16 years as a Hospitalist, Medical Director of Hospital Medicine, core faculty in the UAMS/Washington Regional Internal Medicine Residency Program and most recently as Vice President and Chief Quality Officer/Assistant Chief Medical Officer. Williams received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University Hospital. He also earned a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University.

 

“I could not be more grateful to Dr. David Ratcliff for his service, leadership and many accomplishments throughout the years, and I wish him happiness as he shifts to this next chapter in his career,” said Washinton Regional President and CEO Larry Shackelford. “We are excited Dr. Tony Williams has accepted the position of Chief Medical Officer. He has extensive leadership experience at Washington
Regional, serving on numerous medical staff committees and workgroups, making contributions to clinical quality, patient safety, and organizational excellence.”