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!

Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Inductee
Congratulations to Dr. Ronda Henry-Tillman, Professor and Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery and Chief of Breast Oncology in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, on being selected as a 2023 inductee in the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame. Dr. Henry-Tillman, who also holds the Muriel Balsam Kohn Chair in Breast Surgical Oncology, is one of six Arkansans who will be honored at an Oct. 14 ceremony. She joins an illustrious group of previous inductees including Dr. Edith Irby Jones, Dr. Joycelyn Elders and other preeminent physicians and scientists; cultural figures such as author Maya Angelou; civil rights icons including Daisy Gaston Bates and the “Little Rock Nine;” and leaders in many fields.

Dr. Henry-Tillman has provided extraordinary service to Arkansas and in many national capacities while serving on our faculty since 1998. She has received both national and international recognition for her leadership, dedication and commitment to surgical training across Arkansas as well as in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries around the world. Dr. Henry-Tillman has been a staunch advocate for the medically underserved, working to improve access to early screening, detection and treatment of breast and other cancers. She has strived to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity, particularly in relation to cancer care. Induction into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame is just the latest of many well-earned, major honors for Dr. Henry-Tillman. Without doubt, there will be many more to come.

UAMS Opens State’s First Donor Milk Bank
The opening of the Arkansas Milk Bank last week was great news for mothers, babies and families across the state, as well as for UAMS, Arkansas Children’s and other hospitals that depend on donated milk for some of the tiniest, most vulnerable patients. Special thanks to Dr. Misty Virmani, Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology, who was instrumental in bringing the initiative to fruition, with the help of many others at UAMS and in the Arkansas Legislature. In 2021, the legislature passed Act 225, establishing the creation of the milk bank and special funding to help support it. Dr. Virmani serves as Executive Medical Director of the milk bank and Director of Breastfeeding Medicine. Learn more about the facility and its services in this UAMS news story and on the UAMS Milk Bank website.

DOD Peer Review Leadership
Dr. Tom Kelly, Professor of Pathology and Associate Director for Cancer Research and Training in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, has been invited by the U.S. Department of Defense to serve as Chair of the Pathology 6 (PB-6) peer review panel for the Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP). The panel will meet in October to review FY23 grant applications for research projects with high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer. Dr. Kelly, whose own research focuses on the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer, has served as a reviewer for the BCRP for almost three decades. 

Knee Society Member
Dr. Simon Mears, Professor and Vice Chair for Quality and Safety in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, has been elected to the prestigious Knee Society. Considered to represent the world’s most influential surgeons and researchers in knee replacement, the Knee Society focuses on education and research in the area of total knee arthroplasty as well as the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and other disease processes that lead to end-stage arthritis of the knee.

Family Medicine Faculty in the Spotlight
Dr. Sujit Kumar Kotapati, Assistant Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine and Medical Director of the UAMS Health Neighborhood Clinic in Maumelle, and Dr. Rajalakshmi Cheerla, an Associate Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine in the Baptist Health-UAMS residency program, have had six posters accepted for display at the American Academy of Family Physicians FMX (Family Medicine Experience) conference, the organization’s premier annual event, in October. One of the posters has been elevated for an in-person oral presentation at the invitation of the FMX submissions committee. 

National Role for Emergency Medicine Resident
A shout-out to first-year Emergency Medicine resident Dr. Yusuke Kishimoto, who has been selected by the American Academy of Emergency Medicine Resident and Student Association (AAEM/RSA) to serve on its Cabinet of Delegates. AAEM/RSA is a professional association representing 3,500 emergency medicine residents and medical students. The organization advocates on issues that impact trainee medicine and supports the teaching of evidence-based medicine.

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!

Lifetime Achievement Award
Congratulations to Dr. Michele Moss, a Professor in the Cardiology and Critical Care Medicine sections of the Department of Pediatrics, on receiving a well-earned Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Transport Medicine (SOTM). She will be honored during the AAP national conference in Washington, D.C., in October. Dr. Moss’ AAP colleagues lauded her for exemplifying SOTM’s vision of achieving global excellence in neonatal and pediatric transport medicine. She was described as a role model for demonstrating professionalism and compassion with patients, families and clinical colleagues in what are often extremely stressful and complex situations.

Colleagues in Arkansas know those qualities firsthand. Dr. Moss has served on our faculty since 1985 and as Medical Director of Angel One Transport since 1988. She has held many other leadership roles at Arkansas Children’s, including Medical Director of ECMO in 2016-2022, Vice-Chief of the Pediatric Service in 2003-2017, and Medical Director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in 1997-2000. Dr. Moss is also currently serving as President of the Arkansas Chapter of the AAP.

Soirée Top Docs
Congratulations to the more than 120 UAMS physicians who were voted by their peers as Little Rock’s Top Docs 2023 for Soirée magazine. As always, our faculty physicians were a strong presence on the annual list, representing 36 specialty areas. These physicians are also highlighted here on the UAMS Health website. Congratulations to all, and kudos for your dedication to outstanding patient care, along with your work across all mission areas.

Peritoneal Dialysis Fellowship Designation
UAMS has been designated by the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) as one of three centers in the nation for fellowships sponsored by the ISPD. The society provides scholarships for nephrology fellows to travel to designated peritoneal dialysis (PD) centers for highly specialized training with PD experts for three months. Kudos to Dr. Aparna Sharma, Associate Program Director for the fellowship and Director of the Living Kidney Transplant Program at UAMS, for her work on the ISPD application, and to Dr. Manisha Singh, Director of the Home Dialysis Programs at UAMS and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, who will serve as the ISPD Fellowship Director.

Symposium Highlights Undergraduate Research
A shout-out to Professor Dr. Grover P. Miller and colleagues in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for their work on the 10^th Annual Arkansas Undergraduate Research Symposium. The event drew 131 students from 41 colleges and universities across the country to UAMS. Dr. Miller’s leadership of the annual symposium is a big reason for its success. This year’s event ended with a presentation thanking him for his dedication to teaching, mentoring and inspiring the next generation of biomedical scientists. Diane McKinstry, summer program manager for Arkansas INBRE, also was recognized for her work on the symposium. Biochemistry faculty members Dr. Samantha Kendrick and Dr. Alicia Byrd organized the oral sessions, and Dr. Eric Enemark coordinated poster judging. The UAMS Graduate School also provided support for the event. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Obesity Expertise Featured in National Media
Dr. Dinesh Edem, Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Director of the UAMS Medical Weight Management Program, was among the national experts consulted for recent articles by KFF Health News and featured in the Washington Post and CNN. Both articles centered on obesity in older patients. The Washington Post article, which explored the use of weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, included the experience of one of Dr. Edem’s patients and his insights about the impact of losing weight for reducing the risk of death. The CNN online article included a snippet from Dr. Edam’s 30-minute interview, with recommendations for older patients who are trying to lose weight. These include appropriate meal plans and supplements to help ensure a high-quality diet. 

On a Run, for a Good Cause
Finally this week, it goes without saying that our students and faculty put in a lot of hours for their work and learning here at UAMS. Quite often, they still find time to serve the community and good causes while having fun in their free time. For example, many students, faculty and staff participated in the recent Run with the Flock 5K, which raised awareness and funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Osteosarcoma Institute. Several of these runners were among the top finishers in their respective age groups and categories, including students Cole Bolen, Grant Dawson, Tucker Andrews and Amie Brint. Faculty placers included Dr. Murat Gokden (Pathology), Dr. Joseph Chacko (Ophthalmology) and Dr. David Douglass (Pediatric Hematology/Oncology).

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!

M.D./Ph.D. Student Earns Prestigious Grant
We were delighted to learn this week that M.D./Ph.D. student Ravi Sun has been awarded a prestigious, highly competitive NIH F30 grant through the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Ravi’s research focuses on the role of the protein Angiopoetin-2 in the abnormal growth of lymphatic malformations, which are congenital vascular abnormalities that can cause severe morbidity in children. The four-year, $181,464 grant covers the cost of this research as well as tuition and a monthly stipend.

Ravi’s research is being conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Graham Strub, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Director of the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute Vascular Anomalies Laboratory. Dr. Strub and Dr. Alan Tackett, Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, serve as Ravi’s F30 co-sponsors. I join with Dr. Strub, Dr. Tackett and Dr. Sara Shalin, Chair of Dermatology and Director of the M.D./Ph.D. Program, in congratulating Ravi on this outstanding achievement.

Academic Senate Service
Congratulations to Dr. Jarna Shah, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, on her election as a COM representative to the UAMS Academic Senate. Dr. Shah will hold the position that was vacated when Dr. Ronald Sanders, Professor of Pediatrics, assumed the role of President-Elect of the Academic Senate. Dr. Shah joins Dr. Steve Cherney and Dr. Ben Stronach, both Associate Professors of Orthopaedic Surgery, who are midway through their two-year terms as COM representatives. Dr. Tiffany Huitt, Associate Professor of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, began serving as Academic Senate President in July. Dr. Priya Mendiratta, Professor of Geriatrics, just completed her term as Past-President, and Dr. David Ussery, Professor of Biomedical Informatics, wrapped up his term as a Member-at-Large. Kudos to all for their leadership and service.

Otolaryngology Faculty Lend Expertise to Textbook
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery faculty members Dr. Mauricio Moreno, Dr. Jennings Boyette and Dr. Emre Vural are Co-Editors with Adjunct faculty member Dr. Brendan Stack on a new textbook, “Matrix Head and Neck Reconstruction.” Published by Springer, the book focuses on scalable reconstructive approaches organized by defect location. Assistant Professor Dr. Jumin Sunde served as Associate Editor, and Otolaryngology resident Dr. J. Reed Gardner was Assistant Editor. In addition to the editors, other UAMS faculty members, residents and fellows are among the experts in facial plastic surgery, oncology and otolaryngology from around the country who contributed to chapters in the book.

Breast Pathology, Surgery Expertise Featured in Textbook
A shout-out to Dr. Soheila Korourian, Professor of Pathology and Director of the Breast Pathology Service, on the publication of the sixth edition of “The Breast, Comprehensive Management of Benign and Malignant Diseases.” Dr. Korourian was among the editors of the textbook, published by Elsevier, and co-authored six chapters. In addition to her work in the area of breast pathology, Dr. Korourian provides clinical service in cytopathology and gynecologic pathology. She also directs the annual Pathology Update CME course and directs the Pathology Grand Rounds series. Other COM faculty members who co-authored chapters in the textbook include Drs. Sara Shalin, Ginell Post, Vijay Patel, Chien Chen and Nicole Massoll from the Department of Pathology; along with Dr. Anne Thompson Mancino and Dr. Matthew Steliga from the Department of Surgery, who contributed to chapters relating to surgery.

Pediatric Hospital Medicine Conference
Several members of the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Section presented work at the recent Society of Hospital Medicine conference in Philadelphia. Section Chief Dr. Rebecca Cantu and faculty members Dr. Sara Sanders and Dr. Brittany Slagle gave oral presentations on a wide range of topics including the Arkansas Children’s Operations Center, writing and reviewing personal statements, clinical management of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, and acute pain management in children. Dr. Kristyn Jeffries and Dr. Emily Barnes, along with senior Pediatric Hospital Medicine fellow Dr. Cindy Nguyen and Pediatrics residents Dr. Annalyse Kohley and Dr. Rachel Mayo presented research posters.

Ophthalmology Recognized for Research
The Department of Ophthalmology and Ophthalmology Residency Program continue to stand out nationally for excellence in research output. The residency program ranked ninth nationally for research output this year, up from 13^th last year, in the Doximity Residency Navigator rankings. The achievement is significant, because the rankings are compiled for medical students who are interested in matching to the specialty. The department as a whole often stands out at national meetings, such as the recent American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS), where UAMS team members presented 14 posters, papers and videos. Kudos to Chair and Jones Eye Institute Director Dr. Paul Phillips, Residency Program Director Dr. Ahmed Sallam, and the faculty, residents and research coordinators for their commitment to research.

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!

National Guidance on Pediatric Ethics Decisions
Pediatric ethics decision making poses enormous challenges for clinicians and family members, along with the medical ethicists dedicated to assisting them with tough decisions. Dr. D. Micah Hester, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics, was one of three leading experts who organized a 2022 symposium to deliberate the standards of pediatric decision making. The symposium and subsequent discussion by 17 participating pediatric ethicists resulted in six consensus recommendations, which were published last week in Pediatrics. Along with Dr. Hester’s substantive involvement, the Harvey & Bernice Jones Chair in Pediatrics at Arkansas Children’s was instrumental in providing funding support for the symposium. 

Groundbreaking Ovarian Cancer Research
A shout-out to Dr. Michael Birrer, Professor and Director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, and colleagues on their recent groundbreaking work relating to ovarian cancer. The findings, which were published this month in the journal Cell, could improve the way the disease is treated around the world. Dr. Birrer is a senior author on the Cell article and was the Co-Principal Investigator of a U01 grant from the National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium. The discovery identifies a 64-protein-gene signature that can predict primary treatment resistance in patients with high-grade ovarian cancer. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

New Insights into Ophthalmology Subspecialty
Dr. Paul Phillips, Professor and Pat Walker Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, co-edited “Fundamentals of Pediatric Neuro-Ophthalmology,” the first case-based textbook dedicated to the subspecialty. Dr. Phillips also authored a chapter, “Third Cranial Nerve Palsy: A Child with Ptosis and Exotropia,” in the book recently published by Springer. In addition to directing the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute at UAMS, Dr. Phillips serves as Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus and Pediatric Neuro-Ophthalmology at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He is one of three directors of the international Consortium of Pediatric Neuro-Ophthalmology (CPNO).

National Appointments in Pediatric Critical Care
Dr. Ronald Sanders Jr., Professor and Section Chief of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, has been appointed to leadership positions in two key subgroups of a national network devoted to improving outcomes and quality of care for critically ill children. Dr. Sanders will begin serving as Executive Vice Chair of the NutriNet subgroup of the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) network in September. He is also serving as Executive Committee Vice-Chair for the PALISI Near4Kids subgroup. Read more in the Pediatrics Newsroom.

Gold Seal for Spinal Fusion
UAMS Health recently became the first health organization in Arkansas to be awarded The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Certification in Spinal Fusion. The achievement reflects the tireless efforts of our spine care surgeons, nurses and other staff and their strong commitment to providing the highest quality of care and safety for patients with spine disorders. I join with Dr. C. Lowry Barnes, Professor and Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, in thanking Associate Professor Dr. David Bumpass, Medical Director, Dana Lawrence, APRN, Nursing Director for the certification committee, and all who contributed to this initiative.

Family Medicine Residency in the Spotlight
The UAMS Little Rock Family Medicine Residency Program will be a major player at the American Academy of Family Physicians FMX (Family Medicine Experience) conference in October. The program had 11 posters accepted for display at the premier AAFP event, and five of those have been elevated to in-person oral presentations at the invitation of the FMX submissions committee. Faculty authors include Department Chair Dr. Shashank Kraleti along with Dr. Lauren Gibson-Oliver, Dr. Wayne Bryant Jr., Dr. Diane Jarrett, Dr. Beth Schmit and Dr. Diorella López-González. Resident authors include Dr. Amrutha Denduluri (PGY3), Dr. Meghan Gibson (PGY3), Dr. Divya Krishnan Seethapathy (PGY2) and 2023 program graduate Dr. John Ukadike.

Mural Connects Art and Medicine
There are lots of good reasons to check out The Orthopaedic & Spine Hospital, and one of the brightest (literally) is the vibrant mural in the lobby created by second-year medical student Alexa Pearce. The mural encompasses a theme of bodies in motion, and it is a great example of the ties between art and medicine. You can read about how the mural came to fruition in this UAMS web story. Nice work, Alexa!

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!

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!

VA Research Career Scientists
Congratulations to Dr. Andrew Morris, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology and the Mehta/Stebbins Chair in Cardiovascular Research, on receiving a prestigious Research Career Scientist Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Research and Development. The designation is awarded after competitive peer review to established investigators who have distinguished themselves through scientific achievements and substantial contributions to the VA research community.

Dr. Morris has been funded by the VA since 2007, both individually and with his wife, the late Dr. Susan Smyth, former College of Medicine Dean, for studies of lipid metabolism and signaling in vascular inflammation and thrombosis. In addition to his personal research in these areas, Dr. Morris developed and now directs an analytical laboratory at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) that provides biomonitoring services to support health research studies of veterans and active-duty military personnel. A current focus is on per- and polyfluorinated substances, which are pervasive, manmade surfactant chemicals with toxic effects.

The Research Career Scientist (RSC) Award will provide five years of additional salary support for Dr. Morris. While most RSC and Senior Research Career Scientist (SRCS) awards go to researchers at larger VA-affiliated universities, we have been fortunate to have several outstanding recipients on our faculty. Current RSC awardees include Dr. Teresita Bellido, Professor and Chair of Physiology and Cell Biology; Dr. Alexei Basnakian, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology; and Dr. Shuk-Mei Ho, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. Dr. Robert J. Reis, Professor of Geriatrics, is a SRCS awardee, which provides seven years of funding.   

Endowed Chair in Urology
It was a great pleasure to celebrate the investiture of Dr. Julie Riley, Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Urology, in the Hal Reed Black, M.D., Chair in Urology at UAMS yesterday afternoon. Dr. Riley is an outstanding urological surgeon and educator. She has provided excellent leadership and service as Director of the Urology Residency Program since her recruitment to UAMS in 2021. Other leadership roles at UAMS include Quality Director for Surgical Services.

The namesake of the endowed chair, the late Dr. Hal Reed Black, graduated from UAMS in 1950 and trained in urology here before entering private practice in Little Rock. He instructed and mentored many medical students and residents during his career. Watch for a story about the investiture soon on the UAMS website.

Congratulations, Dr. Riley!

UAMS Shines at Musculoskeletal Workshop
The UAMS Musculoskeletal community has been a standout at the Orthopaedic Research Society’s 50^th International Musculoskeletal Biology Workshop in Utah this week, with several faculty, staff and students presenting research and receiving honors. Dr. Teresita Bellido, Professor and Chair of the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, is Co-Director for the workshop. Dr. Ryan Porter, Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine Division of Endocrinology, received the Osteoarthritis Award for meritorious scientific achievement. Graduate student Hayley Sabol received the Harold M. Frost Young Investigator Award. Her advisor, Dr. Jesús Delgado-Calle, Associate Professor of Physiology and Cell Biology, was a speaker in a session on connective tissue targeting. Graduate student Alicen James received an Alice L. Jee Award. Her advisor, Dr. Melda Onal, Assistant Professor of Physiology and Cell Biology, Dr. Jinhu Xiong, Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Dr. Intawat Nookaew, Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics, also presented posters at the workshop.  

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Expertise
Dr. Amit Agarwal, a Professor in the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, continues to serve in national roles stemming from his expertise in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a common complication of preterm birth. Most recently, he was nominated to two national committees focused on research, as well as an American Thoracic Society committee that is revising national clinical practice guidelines for the care of children with tracheostomy and ventilators. In addition, he is a joint first author on a recent multi-center study, published in Pediatrics, that describes outpatient respiratory outcomes and center-level variability among ventilator-dependent children with BPD.

Pathology Leadership Training Scholarship
Dr. Hoda Hagrass, Assistant Professor of Pathology, has been selected to receive a Leadership Institute Scholarship from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). The scholarship provides access to the ASCP Leadership Institute Certificate Program and one-on-one coaching from the organization’s leadership experts. Dr. Hagrass serves as Medical Director of the Clinical Chemistry and Immunology Laboratories at UAMS and the Clinical Chemistry and Metabolic Diseases Laboratories at Arkansas Children’s.

NEJM “Morning Report”
Third-year Pediatric Cardiology fellow Dr. Murad Almasri already has many well-respected publications, presentations and other honors under his belt – and now a first-author article in the New England Journal of Medicine’s NEJM Evidence. Like the time-honored tradition in which physicians-in-training present noteworthy cases to their colleagues and clinical faculty, the journal’s “Morning Report” section invites readers to develop a differential diagnosis and discover the diagnosis along with the authors of a case. Dr. Almasri was first author on a featured case about a 12-year-old boy who suddenly lost consciousness and suffered cardiac arrest while playing catch in his backyard. Associate Professor Dr. Dala Zakaria was senior author on the article, and several other Pediatric Cardiology trainees and faculty contributed. Well done!

National Research Leadership
Dr. Alan Tackett, Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Deputy Director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, has been elected Vice President of the National Committee for the National Association of IDeA Principal Investigators (NAIPI). The committee serves as the collective voice for the IDeA community and multiple programs designed to boost research in states such as Arkansas that historically have received lower levels of NIH research funding. Dr. Tackett has long served in roles relating to impactful IDeA programs, including Principal Investigator of a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) based at the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Principal Investigator of the IDeA National Resource for Proteomics at UAMS, and Biotechnology Resource Director for the UAMS-based Arkansas INBRE.

Hypothyroidism Treatment Insights
Dr. Spyridoula Maraka, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Program Director of the Endocrinology Fellowship, was the senior author on a recent article in Thyroid, the journal of the American Thyroid Association. “Determinants for Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy in Subclinical Hypothyroidism: A Multicenter Electronic Health Records-Based Study” stemmed from a collaboration among UAMS and three other academic health centers. In addition, Dr. Maraka recently chaired both a symposium and an oral abstract session and presented a poster at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society.

Focus on Schizophrenia
Dr. Brian Kirkpatrick, a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, recently served as an Associate Editor for a special issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry. Published on July 10, the issue focuses on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Dr. Kirkpatrick was invited to help edit the issue by Dr. Emilio Fernandez-Egea, a research scientist with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge in England. In addition to helping edit the special issue, Dr. Kirkpatrick was the lead author on an article, “Negative symptoms in the clinic: we treat what we can describe,” and a co-author on two other articles.

Excellence in Sleep Apnea Treatment
Dr. Patrick Fraley, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, was recently recognized as an Inspire Physician of Excellence for his expertise, positive patient experiences and outstanding clinical outcomes using the Inspire obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment device. Only 50 surgeons of the current 1,000 eligible Inspire-trained surgeons have been designated as Physicians of Excellence. Dr. Fraley was the first to offer the Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulation treatment option in Arkansas and is the only physician in the state with this designation.  

International Education Collaboration
The Department of Anesthesiology’s Division of Neuroanesthesiology recently organized a unique virtual educational program in collaboration with the Hospital das Clinicas of the University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine in Brazil. The virtual meeting was the brainchild of Associate Professor Dr. Priya Gupta and was well attended by students, residents and faculty from both institutions. Topics included anesthesia for cerebral aneurysm surgery and ophthalmological complications from neurosurgery. The UAMS Division of Neuroanesthesiology, directed by Professor Dr. Indranil Chakraborty, has been on the forefront of clinical training and education of medical students, Anesthesiology residents, student registered nurse anesthetists and others.

Head and Neck Cancer Expertise
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery faculty members Dr. Emre Vural, Professor; Dr. Jumin Sunde, Assistant Professor; and Dr. Mauricio Moreno, Professor; represented UAMS well as podium presenters at the 2023 International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer in Montreal this month. Click here for more information about their presentations.

Editorial Appointment
Dr. Yuet-Kin “Ricky” Leung, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, has been appointed as an Editorial Board member for the Molecular Toxicology section of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. The journal encompasses studies relating to molecular studies in biology and chemistry, with a strong emphasis on molecular biology and molecular medicine. Dr. Leung has served as a guest editor for the same journal for the past two years and is currently working on a second special issue for the journal on “Endocrine Disruption and Human Diseases 2.0.”

In the Spotlight
Dr. Terry Harville, Professor of Pathology and Internal Medicine, is the “Spotlight” member of the month for the American Society for Histocompatability & Immunogenetics (ASHI). In a Q&A interview in the July issue of ASHI News, Dr. Harville discusses how he began working in the area of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) decades ago. A trained pediatric allergist, immunologist and rheumatologist, Dr. Harville’s leadership roles at UAMS include Medical Director of the Histocompatibility Laboratory and the Immunogenetics and Transplantation Laboratory.

Thank You, ECMO Team
Since April 2021, the UAMS Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) team has cared for 31 acutely ill patients using the advanced life support device to temporarily augment failing hearts or lungs, and the team has seen many more patients in consultation. This transformative care was introduced just a few months before the COVID “delta surge” that peaked in the summer of 2021. Now, many of these patients are alive to enjoy another summer and many more to come with their loved ones. Other families around the state have the comfort of knowing their loved ones received the best, most comprehensive care possible at UAMS.

As the ECMO program continues into its third year, I want to take a moment to thank the outstanding physicians, nurses, perfusionists, therapists and others who remain dedicated to excellence. These team members represent many areas including Trauma Surgery/Surgery Critical Care, Cardiac Surgery, Anesthesiology, Pulmonology/Medical Critical Care and Emergency Medicine.