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!
“The Last Lecture” to Honor Dr. Kent Westbrook
Congratulations to Dr. Kent Westbrook, Distinguished Professor of Surgery, on being nominated and selected to deliver the inaugural talk in “The Last Lecture” series presented by the UAMS Emeritus Society. The honorific lecture will be held annually to pay tribute to a late-career or retired faculty member and, just as importantly, to share the honoree’s wisdom and insights with faculty, staff and students across UAMS.
Dr. Westbrook has served as a leader at UAMS for five decades. In the 1970s and early 1980s, he worked with colleagues to develop comprehensive cancer programs at UAMS. Dr. Westbrook co-founded what is now the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute in 1984 and served as its founding Director for 14 years. He directed the Division of Surgical Oncology for 11 years. Dr. Westbrook also has made an immeasurable impact on UAMS through philanthropic initiatives and as a champion for our mission and programs across the state.
In short, Dr. Westbrook exemplifies the spirit of “The Last Lecture.” As many know, he is also an engaging and entertaining speaker. All are invited to hear Dr. Westbrook’s talk on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 4:00 p.m. in Walton Auditorium on the 10th floor of the Cancer Institute. (Please note this location has changed since the initial announcements about this event.) A reception will follow. The lecture also can be viewed virtually via this link.
Addressing Disparities in Asthma & Allergy Research
Dr. Tamara Perry, Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of the Allergy and Immunology Section, will share her expertise at an upcoming workshop of the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The two-day workshop will convene experts with knowledge and experience in engaging diverse populations in asthma and allergic diseases research, to strategize how to optimize research recruitment to better understand and address disparities. Dr. Perry will moderate a session on Dec. 4 focusing on the epidemiology of health disparities in allergic disease.
Five Star Rankings for UAMS Specialty Care
We received excellent news recently that Healthgrades, a key resource for consumers looking for a health care provider, has awarded UAMS five stars – its highest rating – for treatment of heart failure, pneumonia and respiratory failure, and cranial neurosurgery. This is the third straight year our neurosurgery team has earned the five-star rating. The ratings reflect the excellence and deep commitment to providing high-quality care of many clinical team members across multiple specialties, the Cardiovascular, Integrated Medicine and Neurosciences service lines, and others. Learn more about the new ratings in this UAMS news release. Congratulations and kudos to all.
Mental Health Needs of the Incarcerated
It is staggering to realize that about half of the people in U.S. jails and more than one-third of those in U.S. prisons have been diagnosed with mental illness. Dr. Lisa Evans, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Pulaski County Regional Stabilization Unit, is doing outstanding work to help ensure law enforcement teams and mental health care providers are prepared to address crisis situations and meet the mental health care needs of those who are incarcerated. A $500,000, three-year grant from the federal Bureau of Justice will bolster these efforts by creating well-trained crisis response teams of Little Rock police officers and social workers. Read more about the initiative in the UAMS Newsroom.
Evidence-based Innovation Award
The Arkansas Medicaid Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) program received the inaugural Evidence-based Health Policy Innovation Award from the Center for Evidence-based Policy based at Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. William Golden, Professor of Internal Medicine and Public Health and Medical Director of the Division of Medical Services for the Arkansas Department of Human Services, accepted the award on behalf of the program at an Oct. 25 ceremony. The Arkansas PCMH program, now in its 10th year, was recognized for achieving robust participation of primary care clinics across Arkansas and improving the viability of care for Medicaid patients in a rural state.
Supporting Health Care Entrepreneurship
Arkansas entrepreneurs from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds will benefit from a groundbreaking new initiative directed by BioVentures President and Department of Surgery faculty member Dr. Kevin Sexton and co-directed by Dr. Eric Peterson (Pharmacology/Toxicology) and Dr. Robert Griffin (Radiation Oncology). With support from a nearly $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Arkansas Collaborative for Technological and Innovative Venture Equality (ACTIVE) will serve as an early-stage technical assistance program and incubator for disadvantaged business owners working to develop health technology and health care businesses. UAMS-based BioVentures LLC was one of 43 recipients receiving grants under the Minority Business Development Agency’s Capital Readiness Program. Dr. Sexton participated in a ceremony and roundtable discussion on the program at the White House in August.
Golf Lab to Help Patients Lead Active Lives
A shout-out to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery on the reopening of the renovated golf laboratory within the UAMS Biomechanics Lab. An anonymous gift funded improvements to the Biomechanics Lab and the creation of dedicated space for golf-focused research. This space has been renamed in honor of renowned Arkansas golfers Dan Snider and the late Jon Zieske. The Biomechanics Lab is used for clinical and biomechanical research to better understand how patients move before and after orthopaedic procedures and for numerous studies involving gait, balance and movement. As Professor and Chair Dr. Lowry Barnes notes in this UAMS news story, the upgraded facility will improve our ability to help patients stay active and live their best lives.
Family Medicine Update 2023
Kudos to the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Community Health and Education Division, and team members from across our college and UAMS who made the 2023 Family Medicine Update and Tobacco and Disease Symposium a great success. Special thanks to Andrea Hooten, Marybeth Curtis, Colleen Lassiter, and Alysia Dubriske for their leadership and hard work on the continuing education conference. The event was held virtually Oct. 24-27, hosting national experts as well as UAMS clinicians and faculty presenters.