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!
Winning App Combats Opioid Cravings
Congratulations to the Department of Psychiatry’s Drs. Andrew James, Ronald G. Thompson Jr., and Mary Bollinger on their honorable mention and cash prize-winning entry in a contest sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to generate working prototypes of products to help with drug cravings. Their entry, “OptiMAT,” is a smartphone application designed to decrease opioid cravings and optimize medication-assisted treatment for opioid disorders. OptiMAT will be evaluated in a randomized control trial to be started later this year in UAMS’ Center for Addiction Services and Treatment (CAST). The team’s entry received a $5,000 cash prize in the NIDA competition. Well done!
Neuro-Oncology Biobank in the National Spotlight
Dr. Analiz Rodriguez, Associate Professor and Director of Neurosurgical Oncology in the Department of Neurosurgery, is one of 11 experts from around the country selected to discuss biological and social determinants of health disparities at the inaugural Precision Health Equity Symposium hosted by Weill Cornell School of Medicine’s Englander Institute for Precision Medicine this week. Dr. Rodriguez will present information on UAMS’ precision neuro-oncology program and the brain tumor biobank she developed. The biobank reflects Arkansas’ diversity and includes many samples from rural patients. Samples are being used to generate cancer models, and by reflecting the state’s diversity they will help further understanding of brain cancer progression and treatment resistance in an unbiased manner.
International Lectures on OI
Dr. Roy Morello, Associate Professor of Physiology and Cell Biology, is an internationally recognized expert in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle bone disease. This fall, he was invited to present data from UAMS studies at the OI2022 International Meeting on Osteogenesis Imperfecta in Sheffield, U.K., and at the 2022 International Scientific Symposium on Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders in Rome. His research efforts also garnered a prestigious Innovation Award from the American Lung Association last summer. Read more about Dr. Morello’s research with longstanding collaborator Dr. John Carroll, Chief of Pulmonology for the Department of Pediatrics and Arkansas Children’s, and Research Assistant Dr. Milena Dimori here.
UAMS Well Represented at CHEST Conference
The Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) Division was well represented at the 2022 International CHEST Conference in Nashville last week. Dr. Shahrukh Arif (PGY5) was selected to participate in the fellows course, a unique interactive, lecture-free educational experience. Dr. Arif, Dr. Angel Mitma (PGY5) and Internal Medicine residents Dr. Prachi Saluja (PGY3), and Dr. Tanmay Gandhi (PGY2) presented interesting cases of pulmonary medicine in the interactive case discussion series. Dr. Manish Joshi, Professor, and Dr. Deepa Raghavan, Associate Professor, moderated clinical case sessions. Dr. Thaddeus Bartter, Professor, shared his expertise in pulmonary function testing (PFT) by delivering the PFT Crossfire Lecture. UAMS PCCM fellows scored among the top 25 Institutions participating in the National CHEST Knowledge Challenge for trainees. Kudos to the UAMS team!
Dismantling Ageism and Racism
Dr. Ramona Rhodes, Associate Professor of Geriatrics, co-chaired a writing group that has published a framework to address the intersection of ageism and racism for the American Geriatrics Society (AGS). This work presents a monumental opportunity to dismantle two prevalent “isms” that can impact the health and wellbeing of racially and ethnically minoritized older adults. The framework was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and highlighted in an AGS news release. Dr. Rhodes also recently was named a Deputy Editor for the journal, and she continues to serve as Section Editor for Ethnogeriatrics and Special Populations. Here in Arkansas, Dr. Rhodes also serves as Associate Director for Health Services Research in the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.
National Pathology Appointment
Dr. Murat Gokden, Professor and neuropathologist in the Department of Pathology, has been elected by the American Association of Neuropathologists (AANP) to serve as a Councilor to the International Society of Neuropathology (ISN). During his three-year term, Dr. Gokden’s responsibilities will include facilitating collaboration and communication between AANP and ISN, as well as other neuropathology societies around the world, and representing AANP in international scientific meetings. Kudos to Dr. Gokden for his national service as well as his outstanding work at UAMS.
Championing Streamlined Lab Diagnosis
Dr. Charles Matthew Quick, Professor of Pathology, was part of a consortium of medical directors from pathology labs across the country asking the federal government to continue a COVID-era exemption that helped to streamline the process for remote diagnosis. An open letter to the U.S. Congress was published in Nature Medicine last week.It calls in part for immediate continuation of the exemption, which has led to faster diagnostic times, more workplace flexibility and improved patient care. The letter also advocates for amending the Public Health Service Act to implement much-needed updates to 34-year-old CLIA statutes to account for non-traditional diagnostic modalities and advances in medicine. Kudos to Dr. Quick for his work on this important issue for pathologists and the patients they serve.
Distinguished Alumni Honoree
Congratulations to Dr. Erica Liebelt, Professor of Pediatrics and Medical and Research Director of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, on receiving the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Dr. Liebelt, who was recruited to UAMS last year, also serves as Associate Medical Director of the Arkansas Poison and Drug Information Center in the UAMS College of Pharmacy. She is recognized nationally and internationally in the field of medical toxicology for her contributions to clinical service, education and research. The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine recognized Dr. Liebelt at a ceremony during the school’s alumni weekend, paying tribute to her with a video about her path to medicine and her career.
Cleft Lip/Palate Team Highlighted at Conference
A shout-out to Dr. Donald Callan, Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatric and Special Needs Dentistry, Dr. Angie Zaki-Sabet, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatric and Special Needs Dentistry and Arkansas Children’s Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP) orthodontist team member, and simulation specialist Eric Braden, for sharing their expertise at the recent 1st Egyptian Conference for Cleft Lip and Palate in Cairo. Dr. Callan, who specializes in periodontics, was the keynote speaker for the conference. Dr. Zaki-Sabet, an orthodontist, lectured on a novel approach to nasoalveolar molding for infants born with CLP. All three of the UAMS-Arkansas Children’s colleagues discussed the multidisciplinary team approach, encompassing both medical and dental specialties, at Arkansas Children’s that makes the care of special needs children with CLP so outstanding. Read more about the excellent work of these colleagues here.
National Pediatric Rehabilitation Conference
Pediatrics colleagues Dr. Supriya Jambhekar, Professor in the Pulmonology Division, and Dr. Laura Hobart-Porter, Associate Professor and Interim Chief of Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, were among just five speaker groups selected to present at the annual Community Meeting at the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPMR) conference. They discussed their work on the diagnosis and management of sleep-related breathing disorders in patients with spina bifida at the virtual meeting. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation resident Dr. Zachary Dawes presented a poster at AAPMR, “Starvation Induced Thiamine Deficiency and the Development of Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Polyneuropathy: A Case Report,” with Dr. Hobart-Porter and Dr. Vikki Stefans, Professor, as senior authors.
Thank You, Dr. Kenney
And finally this week, I would like to congratulate Dr. Philip Kenney, Professor of Radiology, on his retirement as the Department of Radiology honors him with a CME event focusing on leadership and mentoring this Saturday morning. Dr. Kenney served as Chair of Radiology in 2008-2012, and he has continued to serve in the Body Imaging Division in the years since then. The program will feature talks from Radiology leaders at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the American Board of Radiology, along with Dr. Kenney. For more information, see this event flyer. Thank you for your service and dedication to UAMS, Dr. Kenney, and best wishes for your retirement!