President Peter Likins’ condition was upgraded to fair yesterday, University Medical Center physicians said less than a week after his emergency heart surgery.

Last Wednesday UMC surgeons replaced part of Likins’ pacemaker and repaired a muscle wall by his heart after he nearly fainted in his office.

Likins was in critical but stable condition that night but was upgraded to serious condition on Thursday. Doctors said they expect Likins to leave the hospital within a few days.

Provost George Davis, executive vice president of the university, said in a campus e-mail that he is acting as the lead administrator and will be working closely with fellow vice presidents Saundra Taylor and Joel Valdez.

“”Doctors remain upbeat about his prognosis, and they continue to expect Dr. Likins to achieve a complete recovery and a return to normal activity,”” Davis said in an e-mail.

Get-well wishes can be sent via e-mail to plikins@email.arizona.edu and by mail to the President’s Office, 1401 E. University Blvd./Post Office Box 210066.