After more than three decades in Northwest Arkansas health care, J. Larry Shackelford, president and CEO of Washington Regional Medical System, has announced his retirement, effective May 31. Shackelford, who joined the organization in 2010 and became CEO in 2017, will continue serving the system as a governmental affairs advisor following his retirement.
During his tenure, Shackelford led Washington Regional through the COVID-19 pandemic, earning statewide recognition for his leadership. He served on the Governor’s COVID-19 Winter Task Force and the Arkansas Hospital Association Board of Directors, while also providing regular updates to staff through widely noted weekly letters addressing both operational challenges and the human impact of the crisis.
Shackelford also played a key role in expanding graduate medical education in the region. In partnership with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the Northwest Arkansas Council, he helped establish the UAMS/Washington Regional Graduate Medical Education Program, creating new residency and fellowship opportunities aimed at addressing physician shortages in the state’s fastest-growing region.
Following Shackelford’s retirement, the Washington Regional Medical System Board of Directors has named Dr. Lucas Campbell as the organization’s next president and CEO. Campbell joined Washington Regional in 2023 and currently serves as senior vice president of Clinical Enterprise and Strategy, overseeing systemwide clinical operations and strategic planning.
Lucas Campbell, MD
Campbell has led several major initiatives, including the system’s transition to Epic, a unified electronic health record platform, and the expansion of surgical services through the addition of Physicians’ Specialty Hospital in Fayetteville.
“We are thankful for Mr. Shackelford’s dedicated service and his commitment to Washington Regional’s patients, team members and the community,” said Board Chairman Marshall Saviers. “Our board conducted a diligent search to find the right person to serve as Washington Regional Medical System’s next President and CEO. Specifically, we looked for someone with the right set of competencies to build on Washington Regional’s legacy of growth in both capacity and capabilities to provide quality patient care. We sought a leader who would be committed to our mission, which is to improve the health of people in the communities we serve through high-quality care, prevention and wellness education. Our board is confident that Dr. Lucas Campbell is uniquely qualified as a physician executive to be the CEO to guide Washington Regional to successfully adapt to an ever-changing health care environment while remaining faithful to our mission. We look forward to celebrating Washington Regional’s many accomplishments under Larry’s leadership and welcoming Dr. Campbell in his new role.”
“I’m humbled by the board’s confidence and honored to lead Washington Regional in its next chapter as we continue to serve a thriving Northwest Arkansas community,” said Lucas Campbell, MD. “I am also deeply grateful for Mr. Shackelford’s leadership and mentorship over the years. Washington Regional has been at the heart of Northwest Arkansas for more than 75 years, and I look forward to continuing the System’s legacy of high-quality, compassionate care.”
Washington Regional includes a 425-bed medical center, multiple surgical facilities, five Centers of Excellence and dozens of clinic locations across Northwest and North Arkansas. The system has been ranked the #1 hospital in Arkansas for five consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report.
READ ALSO: Groundwork Launches Statewide Effort to Support Expanding Housing Options in Arkansas
