The Alice L. Walton School of Medicine has spent the past two years building out its leadership team ahead of plans to welcome its inaugural class of students in 2025.
Most recently, on Oct. 16, the Bentonville, Ark.-based medical school named three leaders:
Shahrzad Bazargan-Hejazi, PhD, will serve as assistant dean of research education, responsible for the development and implementation of research-related curriculum. She previously held multiple leadership roles at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, most recently as the vice chair of the institutional review board.
Chris Candler, MD, will join Walton Medical School Nov. 18 as senior associate dean for faculty affairs and development. He will lead all faculty recruitment and retention operations. Dr. Candler has spent 28 years in medical education, most recently as senior associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.
James Dockery was hired as chief compliance officer and will be responsible for the development and management of compliance, privacy and Title IX programs. He most recently worked with the United Services Automobile Association as director of accessibility. Prior to that, Mr. Dockery held leadership roles at several universities.
In August, the Walton Medical School announced it had recruited Yolangel Hernandez Suarez, MD, from Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Miami to serve as executive vice dean. The school also appointed several other faculty and administrative leaders in the spring.
Walmart heiress Alice Walton founded the four-year medical school in 2021. The school is set to welcome its first class of students next year, pending accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Read more about the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine here.