The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine has named Ashley Booth Norse, M.D., as chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine and clinical service chief for emergency medicine for UAMS Medical Center. Dr. Norse, who started at UAMS on Jan. 6, 2025, previously served as professor and associate chair of operations in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville.
“Dr. Norse is known nationally and in Florida as an ardent emergency medicine physician, leader and patient advocate who has strived to improve standards and performance in her field and medicine more broadly,” Steven Webber, MBChB, College of Medicine dean and UAMS executive vice chancellor, said in an Aug. 26 announcement to faculty. “She will be an outstanding leader for our excellent programs, faculty and staff in Emergency Medicine.”
Dr. Norse served as a faculty member at University of Florida (UF) Health Jacksonville from 2005 until her recruitment to UAMS. Her leadership roles there also included medical director for the UF Emergency Department and ED Observation Unit, as well as director of Physician Assistant Services, Governmental Affairs, and the Emergency Medicine Administrative Fellowship in the department.
Norse received her medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans in 2001. She completed her residency in emergency medicine at the University of Florida/Shands Hospital (now UF Health) in Jacksonville, serving as chief resident during her final year. Norse continued her training with a fellowship in health care policy at the University of Florida before joining the UF Health faculty as an assistant professor.
In addition to her academic and clinical roles at UF Health, Norse has held numerous national and state roles. She is a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (FACEP) and currently serves on the ACEP Governmental Affairs, Reimbursement and State Legislative Affairs committees. She is also vice-president of the Florida Medical Association and serves on its Board of Directors. She is a past-president of the Duval (Florida) County Medical Society and the Florida College of Emergency Physicians.
Norse’s scholarly work has included numerous publications and regional, national and international presentations. She has received many honors for teaching and professional service, including the Administrator of the Year Award from the Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine; Medical Director of the Year Award from the American Association of Women Emergency Physicians; the Martin J. Gottlieb Award for Outstanding Advocacy in Emergency Medicine from the Florida College of Emergency Physicians; and multiple faculty awards from UF Health Jacksonville.
(This article was updated in January 2025.)