Here are this week’s Accolades, a roundup of some of the honors and accomplishments of College of Medicine and UAMS faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students I’ve heard about recently!
Faculty Bring Cancer Research to Life
Ten UAMS medical students and two osteopathic medical students from Arkansas gained insights and hands-on experience in cancer research this summer with the help of many faculty and staff in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Dr. Tom Kelly, Professor of Pathology and Associate Director of Cancer Research and Training in the Cancer Institute, and Diane McKinstry, B.B.A., Summer Program Manager, organized the Partnership in Cancer Research (PCAR) internship program for the third year. The eight-week program is supported with a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Along with Dr. Kelly, this year’s mentors and lecturers included Drs. Richard Nicholas, Kevin Sexton, Richard Crownover, Martin Cannon, Donald Johann, Samantha Kendrick, Brian Koss, Aaron Storey, Rick Edmondson, Marie Burdine, Behjatolah Karbassi, Ruud Dings, Robert Griffin, Bolni Marius Nagalo, Yuet-Kin Leung, Angus MacNicol, Hong-yu Li, Zhiqiang Qin, Nathan Avaritt, Eric Peterson and Sarah Beth Harrington. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.
COM Faculty Lend Expertise, Leadership at NMA Convention
UAMS was very well represented at the National Medical Association (NMA) Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly in New Orleans this week, with several College of Medicine faculty sharing their expertise across multiple specialties and issues pertaining to health equity.
As President of the American College of Physicians (ACP), Dr. Omar Atiq (Internal Medicine; Otolaryngology-Head/Neck Surgery) delivered the ACP Presidential Address in the Internal Medicine Section symposium, providing an update on the management of head and neck cancer and national disparities in outcomes. Also lending their expertise and leadership as speakers, moderators and/or session chairs were: Dr. Gloria Richard-Davis and Dr. William Greenfield (Obstetrics and Gynecology); Dr. Corey Montgomery (Orthopaedic Surgery); Dr. Akilah Jefferson (Pediatrics); Dr. Gwendolyn Bryant-Smith (Radiology); and Dr. Ronda Henry-Tillman and Dr. Jonathan Laryea (Surgery).
National Infectious Diseases Leadership
Dr. Robert Hopkins Jr., Professor and Director of the Division of General Internal Medicine, has been appointed Medical Director for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). The appointment is the latest of many national roles for Dr. Hopkins, who also serves as Chair of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Vice Chair of the American College of Physicians Immunization Committee. As NFID Medical Director, Dr. Hopkins will focus on the growth of NFID programs, including efforts to build vaccine confidence, address health equity issues and increase awareness of disease prevention and treatment. Read more in this NFID news release.
National Psychology Appointment
Dr. Amy Seay, Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Section of Pediatric Psychology, has been elected as the Arkansas representative to the American Psychological Association (APA) Council of Representatives for 2024-2026. As the legislative body of the APA, the council directs and informs the development of policies that promote the science of psychology to address important current and emerging societal issues and needs. Dr. Seay, a medical psychologist, practices at Arkansas Children’s Northwest and the Schmieding Developmental Center in Springdale.
Pediatric Pulmonology Expertise
Dr. Ariel Berlinski, Professor in the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, recently shared his expertise on aerosol delivery in children in a NYU Grossman School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics Grand Rounds. At Arkansas Children’s, Dr. Berlinski serves as Medical Director of the Pulmonary Diagnostic Laboratory, Medical Director of Respiratory Care Services and Director of the Arkansas Children’s Cystic Fibrosis Center. He also directs the Pediatric Aerosol Research Laboratory at Arkansas Children’s Research Institute. Dr. Berlinski also recently co-authored four publications, including an international consensus statement on administration strategies of inhaled medications in critically ill adults receiving respiratory support and a study highlighting the bias between clinic spirometry and home spirometry in children with cystic fibrosis.
Getting Our Freshmen Off to a Great Start
Finally this week, kudos to all of you who are helping ensure a strong start to medical school for our incoming first-year students. Freshman Orientation is in full swing under the leadership of Dr. Sara Tariq, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Dr. James Graham, Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Program Manager Jennifer VanEcko, and leaders and staff from many COM programs and campus resources. Last week, Sharanda Williams, M.A., Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Diversity, led MedEd Ready, an updated version of our pre-matriculation program, which had been on hiatus for a few years due to the pandemic. Twenty-one incoming freshmen participated in the program, which offered additional opportunities for learning about our medical education program and making connections with faculty and fellow students.
I know the entire COM team joins me in warmly welcoming the Class of 2027 to medical school!