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!
Showcasing our Best
When legislators visit UAMS, there is never a shortage of things to showcase, from our world-class facilities to innovative programs that are transforming health in Arkansas. But nothing makes us prouder than our students! Special thanks to the student volunteers who participated in the recent joint meeting of the Arkansas Senate and House Committees on Public Health, Welfare and Labor, held at UAMS.
Kudos to students Kimberly Arnold, Zainab Atiq, Katie Beaton, Jennie Burns, Mattison Cato, Faizan Cheema, Ethan Chernivec, Darynne Dahlem, Macey Feimster, Mackinzie Goeke, Carlon Gragg, Christine Hsu, Nathan Johnson, Madison Kelly, Brianna Long, Ryan Pohlkamp, Tariq Salem, Jacob Siebenmorgen, Olivia Tzeng, Conner Webb and Taher Yusufali (and any others who attended but weren’t on the sign-up list).
Thanks also to our faculty who participated, including Dr. Nirvana Manning, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Dr. Jennifer Callaghan-Koru, Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine Division of Community Health and Research, who presented information on maternal health in Arkansas; and Dr. Laura Dunn, Chair of Psychiatry and Director of the Psychiatric Research Institute, who briefed legislators on the UAMS AR ConnectNow program. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.
International Honor
Congratulations to Dr. Rosalia C.M. Simmen, Professor of Physiology and Cell Biology, on receiving the 2022 Dr. Severino and Paz Koh Lectureship Award in Science from the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering. Dr. Simmen was honored for outstanding contributions to science relating to women’s health during the academy’s 42nd annual meeting held virtually from Manila, Philippines, Oct. 11-14. Dr. Simmen presented a lecture, “When Hormone Signaling Goes Wrong-A Female Perspective.” At UAMS, Dr. Simmen’s research is focused on basic and pre-clinical studies on endometriosis, endometrial cancer and breast cancer.
Spine Surgeon in the Spotlight
Dr. Sam Overley, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, is in the spotlight as one of “20 Under 40” outstanding young spine care providers selected by the North American Spine Society (NASS). Dr. Overley was featured in the September/October issue of SpineLine magazine and recognized during the society’s annual meeting in Chicago last week. As Orthopaedic Surgery Chair Dr. C. Lowry Barnes said, “We are so fortunate to have Dr. Overley as part of our team. His expertise, reputation and dedication to patients will be invaluable to our program as we continue to grow and establish ourselves as a national destination for musculoskeletal care at The Orthopaedic & Spine Hospital at UAMS.” Read more about Dr. Overley in the UAMS Newsroom and in his SpineLine profile. Congratulations!
International Conference
Dr. Spyridoula Maraka, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, is lending her expertise to multiple components of the American Thyroid Association Annual Meeting in Montreal this week. She is the invited speaker for a “Meet the Professor” session on subclinical hypothyroidism and when, how and why to treat it. She is also presenting an oral presentation on an abstract on the feasibility and safety of discontinuing levothyroxine therapy for patients with mild hypothyroidism. Finally, Dr. Maraka is the invited Co-Chair of a clinical symposium, “ATA Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Nodule Guideline: Changes on the Horizon?”
Peer Approach to Preventing Suicide
Dr. Michael Wilson, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry, is rapidly becoming known as the foremost national expert in behavioral health emergencies. Most recently, he was interviewed for an article in the American Psychiatric Association’s Psychiatric News on how peer support specialists can aid in suicide prevention. The article highlighted a promising pilot trial Dr. Wilson conducted with Dr. Angie Waliski and Dr. Ronald Thompson Jr., Assistant Professors in the Psychiatric Research Institute’s Center for Health Services Research. Peer support specialists are individuals who have previously experienced mental illness and are specially trained to help patients in the Emergency Department or other clinical settings. The team assessed how well peer specialists did in helping at-risk Emergency Department patients develop personal suicide safety plans, compared with other personnel such as social workers or mental health specialists.
Raising Neurosurgery’s Profile
The Department of Neurosurgery’s Dr. J.D. Day, Professor and Chair, and Dr. Analiz Rodriguez, Associate Professor, are raising UAMS’ profile in neurosurgery as leaders in the Southern Neurosurgical Society (SNS). Dr. Day has been elected as the 2022-23 President of SNS, and Dr. Rodriguez is serving as Vice President and Program Chair for the SNS Annual Meeting being planned for next February. The meeting’s theme will be “Adapting to Change in Neurosurgery.” Thanks to Dr. Day and Dr. Rodriguez for their leadership in the field in Arkansas and beyond.
UAMS Hosts Advanced Neurotology Course
A shout-out to the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, which hosted neurotology fellows from around the country and world for the recent Otology Fellows Congress and Advanced Course in Ear and Skull Base Surgery. This was the fifth time UAMS has hosted the event, which features experts from around the country and is chaired by Professor and Otolaryngology Chair Dr. John Dornhoffer. The two-day course showcases UAMS’ state-of-the-art facilities and expertise. Dr. Susan Emmett, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Hearing Health Equity, presented a lecture, “How Otologists Can Change the World: Collaboration to Address Hearing Health Disparities.” UAMS fellow Dr. Anna Bareiss and Assistant Professor Dr. Robert Saadi participated in the course.
How to Write a Case Report
Third-year Internal Medicine resident Dr. Morgan Tripod first-authored and presented a novel scholarly education project at the recent Fall Meeting of the Association for Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM). The project centers on a brief educational module, “How to Write a Case Report in Medicine,” which Dr. Tripod, primary mentor Dr. Steve McKee (Medicine-Pediatrics) and colleagues developed and evaluated. The module, free and available to all, could help medical students and residents become more engaged in satisfying and recognition-garnering scholarly work. Additional collaborators were Dr. Carol Thrush (Surgery), Dr. Mike Anders (Office of Educational Development) and former Internal Medicine/Graduate Medical Education faculty member Dr. Tim Atkinson.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage
UAMS wrapped up Hispanic Heritage Month last week with a thoughtful panel discussion, “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger UAMS,” held over Zoom. Panelists, all from the UAMS Little Rock Family Medicine Residency Program, included Assistant Professor Dr. Monica Ferrero, who is originally from Colombia; third-year resident Dr. Diorella López-González, who is originally from Puerto Rico; first-year resident Dr. Germán Corrales, who is originally from Argentina; and first-year resident Dr. Viridiana Saenz, who is originally from El Paso-Juarez. The panelists talked about their backgrounds, which reflect differences in language and culture and other aspects of diversity within the Hispanic community. Thanks also to the event coordinators, Odette Woods, JD, MDiv, and Dr. Kazandra Wilson of the UAMS Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Dr. Diane Jarrett, Director of Education and Communications for the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. Dr. Wilson moderated the panel discussion, which you can view here. (Enter passcode: 0r6q4#Wq)
Putting Patients First
For the patients who see the UAMS Radiation Oncology team, just getting out of bed and making it to an appointment is a struggle sometimes. One of them recently wrote to thank the entire team for making her spirits soar while they provided expert, compassionate care.
“Today, I literally almost called to cancel the appointment because I did not feel good at all,” the patient wrote. “But I knew that they would make me laugh, and I would witness their camaraderie, all of which would lift my spirits. Just walking in the front doors of the clinic makes one feel welcomed and important. … Choosing to smile, remember a name, and being kind is a choice! Your team chooses! As a patient who is just tired and worn out, I say, thank you.”
The patient expressed appreciation especially for radiation therapists Ashly Cummings, Angie Chambers, Lindsey Brent and Amy Sherrill, along with Assistant Professor Dr. Adam Wolfe, for his “tender and inclusive bedside manners and professionalism.”
On this particular day, the team had a surprise for the patient – a “diploma” and symbolic ringing of the bell to signify the completion of treatment. Those symbolic steps were all the more special thanks to the Radiation Oncology team. Kudos to you all.