Associate Dean University of
Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service
Professor of Health Policy &
Management and Senior Advisor to the Dean
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
College of Public Health
Emeritus Professor of Medicine University of
Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Tom Bruce is a
physician and educator who served in several
capacities as a faculty member and administrator
within the University of Arkansas. From
1974-1985 he was dean of the UAMS College of
Medicine, with a commitment to improve access to
health care services in the most rural parts of
Arkansas. In 2000-2002 he served as the
Inaugural Dean for the UAMS College of Public
Health, creating a partnership approach that
linked the University with the Arkansas
Department of Health and communities across the
state to prepare graduates with skills in
citizen-based health improvement. Beginning in
January 2003 he joined efforts to open the
University’s new Clinton School of Public
Service, first as Dean pro tem and since June 1,
2004, as Associate to Dean (former
Governor/Senator) David Pryor. The Clinton
School is one of the components of the William
J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park in
Little Rock.
He did his undergraduate studies at the
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and earned
an M.D. degree at its Little Rock campus.
Residency in internal medicine was carried out
at Duke University, Cornell University (Bellevue
Hospital/Sloan-Kettering Cancer Ctr. in New York
City); and Parkland Memorial Hospital (Dallas).
Fellowships in heart disease were completed at
the University of Texas (Southwestern) and the
Univ. of London Royal Postgraduate Medical
School (England). He later completed the Health
Systems Executive Pgm. at the Harvard Business
School.
His faculty career started at Wayne State
University, Detroit, where he helped develop an
experimental medical curriculum and, as
Assistant Dean, initiated planning for a new
outpatient teaching facility. He later moved to
the University of Oklahoma where for six years
he was the head of Cardiology and engaged in
clinical practice, teaching, and research. From
1985-1997 he served in the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation in Battle Creek, Mich., helping
create new grantmaking initiatives and directing
projects in health, leadership, and rural
development.
Since 1975 he has been listed in Who’s Who in
America. He received an honorary DSc degree from
his alma mater in 1995, and in recent years has
been the recipient of the Presidential Good Turn
Award (Boy Scouts of America), and special
citations from the University of Transkei (South
Africa), the Kaohsiung Medical College (Republic
of China), and Pontificia Universidad Catolica
Madre y Maestra (Dominican Republic). He
volunteers regularly with the Arkansas Community
Foundation (chairing the Philanthropy Roundtable
of the Arkansas Grantmakers Association),
Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts, Garvan
Woodland Gardens (Hot Springs), Watershed
Community Development Agency, and Heifer Project
International where he serves as Immediate Past
Chair of its Board of Directors. In April 2003
he was recognized as ‘Professional of the Year’
by the UALR College of Professional Studies and
was a finalist in the Arkansas Times ‘2003
Arkansan of the Year.’ In May 2004 the “Bruce
Commons” was dedicated in the UAMS College of
Public Health, and in 2005 he was honored with
CareLink’s ‘David Pryor Award in Community
Service’ and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
‘Salute to Greatness’ Award.