"Dr. Rick Arwood moved to Asheville with his family in 1998. He has practiced in both the outpatient and hospital settings, experiencing the full spectrum of internal medicine care. While striving for wellness and prevention, he also understands the importance of relationships and comprehensive care for managing acute and chronic illness. The practice structure at Blue Ridge Premier Medicine allows him to provide this type of care.
Dr. Arwood grew up in Georgia and graduated from Emory University with a degree in Biology. At Emory, he was a member of the varsity swim team, serving as team captain his junior and senior years. He was also a GTE Academic All-American. Dr. Arwood earned his medical degree at Emory, graduating with Cum Laude honors and completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Virginia.
After practicing general internal medicine in Asheville for five years, Dr. Arwood transitioned to hospitalist work at Mission. During his time at Mission, he served in various roles including Associate Director of Asheville Hospitalist Group, Chief Medical Information Officer for Mission Health, and Medical Director for Utilization and Clinical Documentation Improvement. He chaired or participated in many different hospital committees focused on improving care pathways and quality. Recognized for his interpersonal skills, he served as an educator for medical staff training on communication in healthcare. These broad exposures have reinforced his focus on relationships in medicine, with patients and their families, as well as with other physicians and staff.
Dr. Arwood has been living and practicing medicine in Asheville for more than twenty years. He loves the mountains and appreciates the quality of our medical community. When not working, he enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and traveling. He has recently taken up swimming again, competing in several open water endurance events. While his family nest is emptying, he continues to enjoy time with his wife and three children."
