University of Arkansas alumna Pearl McElfish has been named the associate vice chancellor for the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences' Northwest Campus.

McElfish is filling the shoes of Peter Kohler, who has served as vice chancellor for the Northwest Campus since 2007.

"I am honored to be asked to serve UAMS in this capacity, and I look forward to building upon the foundation that Dr. Kohler has built at our Northwest Arkansas campus," said McElfish.

In her new role, McElfish will provide leadership across UAMS regional programs in Northwest Arkansas and work closely with area partners. She will also retain her duties as director of the Office of Community Health and Research, co-director of the Center for Pacific Islander Health and as an assistant professor in the College of Medicine.

"Pearl has a unique combination of experience in health care administration, business development and community engagement that makes her incredibly well suited to serve as associate vice chancellor," said UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn. "UAMS is deeply committed to advancing health care in northwest Arkansas and educating the next generation of health professionals in the region, and Pearl is an ideal candidate to lead that next chapter of UAMS' in the northwest region."

McElfish joined UAMS in 2010 as the study director of the National Children's Study for the Department of Pediatrics. In 2012, she was named the director of the Office of Community Health and Research. She founded the Center for Pacific Islander Health in 2015. It is the first center in the nation that focuses solely on Pacific Islander health issues.

She earned a doctorate in public policy from the University of Arkansas in 2015. She also holds a master's degree in community and economic development from the University of Central Arkansas, a master's degree in business administration from John Brown University and a bachelor's degree in speech communication from Arkansas Tech University.