Anderson Spickard, III
Dean, Professor of Internal Medicine & Special Assistant to the President for Health Affairs
Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine
Biography
Dr. Anderson Spickard earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his MD from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed his residency and chief residency in internal medicine at the University of Washington, followed by a fellowship and a Master of Science in epidemiology at the University of Virginia. After joining Vanderbilt in 1995, he practiced internal medicine for 26 years, consistently receiving top patient ratings.
Dr. Spickard played a pivotal role in medical education at Vanderbilt. He created and directed the Primary Care Clerkship for 16 years and served as the Internal Medicine Clerkship Director for 13 years. As Vanderbilt School of Medicine’s first master clinical teacher, he mentored generations of medical students. He also pioneered the school’s electronic medical education content system and led the Office of Education Design and Informatics, transforming medical education and influencing institutions nationwide. Additionally, he played key roles in Vanderbilt’s competency-based curriculum and LCME reaccreditation.
His research focuses on innovative approaches to medical education, contributing to numerous peer-reviewed publications. He has also collaborated with teams to secure substantial funding for medical education research.
In 2021, Dr. Spickard joined Belmont University to help establish the Thomas F. Frist, Jr College of Medicine, serving as Associate Dean for Spiritual Growth and Development and Special Assistant to the President for Health. He became Interim Dean in 2022 and was appointed Dean in 2023. In this role, he brings extensive experience in patient care, education, research, and leadership to guide the new medical school.
Dr. Spickard and his wife, Margaret, have three children: Anna (married to Jake Armstrong), William, and the late Lucas (married to Hope). They are proud grandparents to Margot and Ellie Armstrong. In his free time, he enjoys hiking with Margaret, playing tennis, running, and dabbling with his guitar.