KU Medical Center names David Adkins Vice chancellor for external affairs

The University of Kansas Medical Center has named David Adkins to a new position as vice chancellor for external affairs.

Adkins will report to Executive Vice Chancellor Donald F. Hagen, and will oversee alumni and community relations, the staff of KU Med magazine, health and technology outreach, and continuing education at the Med Center. He will also work closely with other KU staff in the areas of government relations and University marketing.

"David is very knowledgeable of the university from his nearly 12 years in the Legislature and his tremendous involvement as an alumnus," said Hagen. "He's also a very gifted communicator who can help represent the Medical Center before a wide variety of audiences statewide. I'm pleased that he has accepted this challenge as we prepare to celebrate the centennials of the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing."

Adkins, c'83, l'86, was elected to the Kansas Senate in 2000, following four terms as a Kansas state representative. He announced earlier this month that he would not seek re-election to the Senate in November. He will serve the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2005. Most recently, Adkins was vice chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and chair of the Senate Reapportionment Committee. During his eight years in the House, he was chair of the Appropriations Committee, chair of the Select Committee on Higher Education, and chair of the Taxation Committee.

"I've enjoyed my service as an elected official but am eager for a new direction in my career," said Adkins. "I've been close to KU since my student days, and I feel honored to have this opportunity to work on behalf of the Medical Center. KUMC is a great asset to the state, one that has an impact on health care and people's lives throughout Kansas. It will have an even greater impact in the future as we develop the Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute and utilize the Biomedical Research Center that's now under construction."

Adkins, 43, is a native of Manhattan and a resident of Leawood. From 1986 to 1998 he practiced law in Prairie Village with Bennett, Lytle, Wetzler, Winn & Martin. From 1998 to 2001 he was special counsel to the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and was the founding executive director of the Community Foundation of Johnson County (1999-01). Since 2001 he has been of counsel with Lathrop & Gage in Overland Park.

In a voluntary role on behalf of KU, Adkins was co-founder and past co-chair of the Rock Chalk Ball, a popular annual KU event sponsored by the Kansas Alumni Association's Greater Kansas City chapter. The ball helps raise funds for student scholarships. He is a past governor of the KU School of Law Society, and is a recipient of the Alumni Association's Mildred Clodfelter Award for volunteer service.