Dr. Liem is the Jackson T. Stephens Professor and Vice Chairman of the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). He also serves as the Associate Chief of Staff for Geriatrics and Extended Care at the Central Arkansas Veteran Health System.

Born in Hue, Vietnam and graduated with top honor from Quoc Hoc High School in 1966, Dr. Liem earned his Medical degree from the University of Saigon Medical School in 1973 where he was the top graduate of the 20th Medical Corp. Dr. Liem entered the US in 1974 for fly surgeon training in San Antonio, Texas; he later served as a Resident in Family Medicine at UAMS and became the Chief Resident in 1979-1980. Dr. Liem was a Fellow in Geriatric Medicine at UAMS from 1980 to 1982 when he began his study in Dementia, Alzheimer's disease and the effects of nootropic and psychotropic agents in the elderly.

Dr. Liem is highly regarded a geriatrician, teacher and administrator. He was honored with the Red Sash Teaching Award 12 times by the UAMS, College of Medicine graduating seniors. He was chosen by his peers to be listed in Best Doctors in America twice (1996 and 1998) and has been included in Castle and Connolly's America Top Doctors 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004 editions.

Dr. Liem is a member of the American Geriatric Society; he is also a member of the Gerontological Society of America. He has lectured and published extensively on the subjects of Dementia and Geriatric Health Care.

The Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics at UAMS is currently ranked 8th by the US News and World Report, Best Graduate Education issue; its clinical program is included in the Best Hospital issue of the same magazine.