Sarah Rhoads, Ph.D., DNP, a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) alumna and former faculty member, returned to the university Sept. 1 to serve as dean of the College of Nursing. To reintroduce herself, she shared some thoughts on the nursing profession, her priorities as dean and her Arkansas roots.
Q: What brought you back to UAMS?
Rhoads: Arkansas is my home, and UAMS is my professional home. I began my career here over 30 years ago and have strong professional and personal ties to Arkansas. This was the perfect time for me to return to UAMS and the College of Nursing. I am dedicated to improving the health of Arkansans and supporting nurses throughout their education, scholarship, service and practice.
Although I spent the previous seven years on the faculty at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, I maintained close connections with my community partners in Central Arkansas as well as many researchers and faculty and staff members at UAMS. I have a passion for enhancing health care quality and access in Arkansas.
The College of Nursing is a leader in nursing education in the state and is well-equipped to address health care and workforce needs. I am excited to build upon the initiatives that were developed under Dean Patricia Cowan’s leadership, including the nurse-midwifery, nurse anesthesia and accelerated BSN programs.
Q: What are your priorities as dean of the College of Nursing?
Rhoads: I am committed to developing priorities that address the needs of Arkansas and improve the health of its residents. My goal is to build on the successes of the College of Nursing by exploring partnerships that will enhance nursing education, clinical care and opportunities in service and research.
Having started my nursing career as a labor and delivery nurse, I am particularly excited about the new nurse-midwifery program. I envision UAMS-educated nurse-midwives practicing in rural Arkansas to help expand and sustain maternity care in small communities.
Q: What challenges does the nursing profession face in the coming years?
Rhoads: Numerous changes are taking place in health care and academia. Nurses are typically able to adjust to evolving work environments. However, when change occurs at a rapid pace, it can lead to increased burnout. In the future, I plan to collaborate with nursing leaders in health care systems across the state to identify strategies for addressing workforce shortages in Arkansas.
There is a pressing need to train compassionate, person-centered nurses who focus on the needs of individuals, families and communities. Recruiting the most talented and dedicated students to meet the workforce demands of Arkansas’ health care systems is challenging and will likely continue to be so in the future.
Q: What opportunities do you see to advance the profession?
Rhoads: Nursing is a profession filled with endless opportunities. Nurses are innovators who can effectively address complex issues, and it is essential that they be part of the discussions when tackling challenges within the health care system.
For 23 consecutive years, nurses have been recognized as the most trusted profession in polling conducted by Gallup. As nursing educators, we have a responsibility to instill in our students the importance of adhering to the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics (2025). A key provision of this code is the obligation for nurses to “establish a trusting relationship and advocate for the rights, health, and safety of those receiving nursing care.” Nurses have earned the top spot among trusted professions, and as educators we need to ensure that nursing students are aware of the responsibility we have to all people touched by our care.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working in nursing education?
Rhoads: I am passionate about mentoring both students and faculty. It’s exciting to think about the potential of student nurses and the many career opportunities available to them. Nursing faculty members are deeply committed to ensuring that aspiring nurses receive an education that enables them to provide high-quality and compassionate care.
I also take pleasure in helping nursing faculty members gain recognition at the state, regional or national levels for their achievements.
Q: What are your interests outside of academia?
Rhoads: I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. Some of my interests include boating on the lakes of Arkansas, listening to live music and traveling. Several months ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Netherlands during tulip season. I was able to bike through the beautiful countryside, passing by the windmills and farmland.
I was the first nurse in my family, and I’m proud to say that many of my family members have since followed in my footsteps. Three of my nieces are nurses practicing in Arkansas. Additionally, both of my daughters are nurses — my oldest is an ICU nurse and is currently in graduate school to become a nurse anesthetist, while my youngest is on the ICU step-down unit at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
