Richard Schooler, DO

Vice President – Farber-McIntire Campus
Dean, College of Health Professions

Richard Schooler, DO, serves Kansas City University as vice president (VP) of the Farber-McIntire Campus and founding dean of the College of Health Professions at KCU. In his VP role, he provides strategic leadership and alignment for the Joplin campus and assists in coordinating community relations, philanthropic outreach, clinical services, research and academic support, as well as some routine day-to-day operations.

He is committed to addressing rural health care issues and improving the health of rural communities. His leadership in this area has been vital to the development of a rural health emphasis at KCU-Joplin. 

Schooler has 40 years of experience as a physician, health care executive, dean and community leader in the Joplin region. Prior to joining the leadership team at KCU, he served as dean of the School of Health Sciences at Missouri Southern State University. He also served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Freeman Health System from 2013-2016, capping off a 12-year tenure that included positions as chief medical officer, medical director and director of medical education.

A 1980 KCU alumnus, Schooler completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecologic surgery at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan. prior to opening his practice in Joplin .in 1985. He operated a successful obstetrics and gynecology practice in Joplin for nearly 20 years before beginning his career in health care administration.

In 2005, Schooler was appointed by Governor Matt Blunt to serve on the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. In 2011 he was recognized by resolution 4538 in the Missouri House of Representatives for his actions after the devasting Joplin tornado of May 22, 2011. He also received the KCU Alumni Service Award in 2015. In addition to his many accomplishments as a physician, educator and health care executive, he is also the author of Planning for Organizational Success: A Leadership Guide to Achieving Success with a Plan, published by Dorrance Publishing Company in 2016.