By JB Clark
News Editor

Since Chancellor Dan Jones left his position at the University of Mississippi Medical Center to assume his leadership role at Ole Miss, two medical center employees have stepped up to fill his former role as Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine.

Dr. James Keeton, chief of staff to the vice chancellor is now the interim vice chancellor for Health Affairs. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the School of Medicine Dr. LouAnn Woodward is now the interim dean for the School of Medicine, as well.

Keeton is a University of Mississippi graduate and earned his M.D. at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine where he also completed his residency in urology. He is a professor of surgery and pediatrics at UMMC.

Woodward received her undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University and her M.D. at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where she also completed her residency in emergency medicine. Woodward is an associate professor of emergency medicine.

Woodward and Keeton assumed their new roles July 1 when Jones officially began his new position on the Oxford campus.

Jones began meeting with administrators of various university departments last week and will continue acclimating himself with the Oxford campus over the next few weeks.

“We’re trying to keep him from being totally overloaded, but he’s going to be a busy man,” Shirley Stuart, secretary to the chancellor, said, according to a university press release. “He’s pretty booked up for a while.”

This week Jones will be taking a trip to Washington in order to meet with Mississippi’s congressional delegation and will continue meeting with administrators.