UAMS College of Nursing Mourns Passing of Michael Carter, DNSc, DNP, FAAN
| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is saddened to learn of the June 17 death of Michael Carter, DNSc, DNP, FAAN, a UAMS alumnus and longtime dean of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing.
After earning his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from UAMS in 1969, Carter in 1973 was part of the first class of graduates from the university’s Master of Nursing Science program. He went on to obtain a Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc) degree from Boston University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Michael Carter stands with a group of his fellow alumni from the UAMS College of Nursing.Image by Benjamin Waldrum
In a 2023 article for the UAMS College of Nursing’s annual newsletter, Carter said his UAMS education laid a foundation for the rest of his career.
“As nursing graduates, we were expected to serve our communities and be leaders in health care,” he said.
Carter served his country in the United States Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War, and he later completed a fellowship in primary care health policy for the U.S. Public Health Service. As a nursing educator, he held a variety of leadership roles, most notably as dean of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing from 1982-2000. From 2009 until April of this year, he served as chairman of the board of directors for Frontier University, a private graduate school of nursing in Versailles, Kentucky.
Carter’s contributions to the profession extended beyond the U.S. He worked tirelessly as an advocate for advanced practice nursing in Australia, and he was named as a fellow of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners in recognition of his efforts.
Patricia Cowan, Ph.D., RN, dean of the UAMS College of Nursing, described Carter as an innovative leader who envisioned new ways of educating health care professionals and providing care.
“Michael created ripples in the status quo, leading to changes in education and practice in the U.S. and Australia,” she said. “He was a passionate advocate for advanced practice nursing, doctoral education and nursing research.”
Carter was an accomplished educator and mentor, guiding students and faculty as they advanced in their careers. Cowan said his influence can be seen in the numerous students who have gone on to serve as leaders in nursing education, research and practice in the U.S. and around the world.
Michael Carter was named a Distinguished Alumnus during UAMS’ 2019 Alumni Weekend. In this photo, he’s shown celebrating the honor with his wife, Sarah Carter, M.D., who is also a UAMS graduate.Image by JohnPaul Jones
Throughout his career, Carter remained a supporter of the College of Nursing. In 2020, he and his family — wife Sarah Carter, M.D., a UAMS alumna, and daughter Elizabeth Carter, J.D., LL.M. — committed $500,000 to establish an endowed scholarship for doctoral students in the College of Nursing.
Cowan noted that Carter was a friend to many people at UAMS. She said she benefited from his mentorship not only as a colleague but also as a student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where she earned her doctoral degree.
“He wasn’t afraid to rock the boat,” she said. “I’ll remember the many stories he shared from his career, illustrating how thinking differently and persevering can make an impact on the nursing profession.”
Carter is survived by his wife and daughter. In the 2023 article for the College of Nursing, he reflected on his time at UAMS and said the most important milestone was meeting Sarah Carter while he was a student in the BSN program.
“Together, we built rich careers of service, practice and scholarship,” he said.