Dr. Richard Friend is dean of the College of Community Health Sciences and a professor in its Department of Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine. Previously, he served as director of The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program, which is operated by the College. Friend received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Tulane University in New Orleans. He graduated from Louisiana State University School of Medicine with honors and completed his family medicine residency training at LSU in Shreveport. After 10 years of private practice, Friend joined the LSU School of Medicine as assistant director of the Family Medicine Residency in Bogalusa. He served as director of the Family Medicine Residency in Bogalusa from 2007 to 2012. Friend has also served as the medical director for nursing homes, a home hospice and a home health company. He held numerous hospital leadership positions during his time in Louisiana. Since joining UA in 2012, Friend has served chair of the Department of Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine and as interim dean of the College.
Friend has extensive administrative and clinical expertise, including emergency medicine experience and endoscopy procedures.