Dr. Christopher Loyke
Christopher J. Loyke, DO, FACOFP, did not always envision a career in medicine. In fact, before medical school, he had his sights set on an entirely different path beneath the surface of the water.
An avid scuba diver, Dr. Loyke taught scuba diving in the 1970s, explored commercial diving and considered becoming a marine biologist. It was his father, an internal medicine physician, who encouraged him to consider medicine instead.
That conversation ultimately set him on a path that would span more than three decades as a physician, educator, and leader. Now, as Dean of the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM), Dr. Loyke brings those experiences to Fort Smith with two principles that have remained constant throughout his career.
“Aside from my family, my two biggest passions in life are teaching and service,” Dr. Loyke said. “That is easily what I am most interested in and most driven toward.”
Dr. Loyke’s introduction to osteopathic medicine was somewhat unexpected. After initially applying to an allopathic medical school, a friend suggested he consider osteopathic medicine. At the time, Dr. Loyke admits he knew very little about the profession. He eventually attended Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and quickly found that its approach to medicine resonated with him.
For Dr. Loyke, however, the most important quality in a future physician is not whether they entered medical school already committed to a particular philosophy of medicine. It is whether they have a genuine desire to care for others.
“I want people who want to serve other people,” Dr. Loyke said. “I want people who want to care for patients.”
He believes the best way to advance the osteopathic profession is not simply to talk about what makes it distinct, but to demonstrate its value through the way physicians serve their patients and communities.
“Do your work. Build the bridges that you need to build, and do your work honestly, with love,” Dr. Loyke said. “You will elevate the profession, and it will always speak for itself.”
After completing his medical training, he spent 25 years practicing family medicine in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Remaining in the same community for much of his clinical career allowed him to experience what he believes is one of the greatest privileges of family medicine: becoming part of the lives of the people he served.
“It’s family practice, not because you take care of families,” Dr. Loyke said. “It’s family practice because if you do it right and you stay put, you become part of these families.”
Over the years, that meant attending many of his patient’s family events including weddings, holidays, first communions, and funerals.
Education was also never far from Dr. Loyke’s clinical work. He enjoyed teaching medical students during their rotations and helping young physicians find direction as they began their own careers.
That desire to serve eventually extended beyond the walls of his practice. At age 50, Dr. Loyke joined the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps and later deployed to Afghanistan, an experience he describes as one of the many opportunities in his career where he received far more than he felt he gave.
His career later expanded into hospital leadership, graduate medical education, and eventually full-time academic medicine. In 2018, he joined Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM), where he initially served in clinical leadership before later becoming Dean.
After years of helping lead a rapidly growing medical school, Dr. Loyke began considering what he wanted from the next chapter of his career.
“I just wanted to go someplace where I can get to know people,” Dr. Loyke said. “I wanted it to be rural. Rural resonates with me, rural underserved.”
When he visited ARCOM, the decision ultimately came down to something much simpler.
“ARCOM just felt right,” he said.
As Dr. Loyke begins his tenure as Dean of ARCOM, he describes his leadership style as collaborative and grounded in trust.
“I like a collaborative approach,” he said. “I’m not a micromanager by any means. I like to let my leaders lead.”
He believes senior leadership relies heavily on honor, integrity and sound judgment, as well as having confidence in the people around you. One of the accomplishments he is most proud of from his previous institution was building a strong leadership team capable of continuing the work long after his departure.
At ARCOM, he says that same philosophy will guide his approach as he works alongside faculty, staff, and students to build upon the college’s foundation and prepare physicians for communities where their skills are needed most.
For Dr. Loyke, serving underserved communities does not mean encouraging every student to pursue primary care. He points out that many communities also lack access to specialists, including cardiologists, endocrinologists, rheumatologists, and pulmonologists.
Whether an ARCOM graduate chooses family medicine or a specialized field, he hopes students will consider where their expertise could have the greatest impact.
“Go where you’re needed,” Dr. Loyke said. “Don’t elbow your way in where there’s 50 cardiologists, and you want to be the 51st. Go where you’re needed.”
Even if just a few are inspired to take their skills to communities where access to care is limited, Dr. Loyke believes the impact can be significant.
“It only takes one or two to make a difference,” he said.
Outside of medicine and education, family remains at the center of Dr. Loyke’s life. He and his wife, Julie, have four children and seven grandchildren. To those grandchildren, Dean Loyke has another title: “Pop Pop,” while Julie is known as “Gigi.”
He also enjoys running and still carries an appreciation for the scuba diving that nearly became his career.
Although his professional path took him far from the marine biology career he once imagined, it ultimately brought together the things he values most: caring for others, teaching future physicians, and finding meaningful ways to serve.
Now at ARCOM, Dr. Loyke hopes to continue that work by helping prepare physicians who not only have the knowledge and skills to practice medicine, but who recognize where those skills can make the greatest difference.
Favorite scuba dive spot: The Mizpah, West Palm Beach
Favorite movie: A New Leaf with Walter Matthau
Favorite meal: Steak and potatoes
Favorite food: Grilled cheese
Bucket list destination: Petra, Jordan
Currently reading: Revenge of the Tipping Point, Blink, The Call of Cthulhu, and The Outsider
