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  1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  2. College of Medicine
  3. Author: Tamara Robinson

Tamara Robinson

UAMS College of Medicine 2025 Golden Apple, Gold Sash and Red Sash Honorees

Each year, students in the UAMS College of Medicine vote for the faculty members they consider to be the most outstanding educators. The honorees are recognized during the college’s Graduation Ceremony (previously Honors Convocation).

Red Sash winners in attendance at the May 16 Graduation ceremony were entitled to wear red sashes over their regalia robes. These honorees were named as outstanding teachers by members of the senior class. Gold Sash honorees are the faculty members who received 10 or more votes.

The person voted by each of the four medical school classes as the best teacher of the year receives that class’s prestigious Golden Apple Award.

In the list of faculty honorees below, the Gold Sash and Golden Apple Honorees are noted and in bold type. The others in this list are Red Sash winners selected by the senior class. All faculty members are listed in their primary department. Congratulations to all!

Anesthesiology

Daniel Bingham, M.D.
Blake Plyler, M.D.

Biochemistry/Molecular Biology

Alan Diekman, Ph.D.  Gold Sash, Freshman (M1) Golden Apple. Dr. Diekman also was selected by seniors to deliver the Faculty Address at the Graduation Ceremony.

Emergency Medicine

Meryll Bouldin, M.D.
Zachary Lewis, M.D.
Jordan Hunter White, M.D.

Family/Preventive Medicine

Scott Dickson, M.D.
Stephen Foster, M.D.
Stephen King, M.D.
Amber Norris, M.D.
Jeanne (Catie) Ross, M.D.
Leslie Stone, M.D., MPH
Donya Watson, M.D.

Internal Medicine

Omar Alqaisi, M.D.
Konstantinos Arnaoutakis, M.D.
Joseph Thaddeus Beck, M.D.
Sheena CarlLee, M.D.
Ryan Dare, M.D.
Steven Deas, M.D.
Nicholas Gowen, M.D. Gold Sash. Dr. Gowen also was selected by seniors to participate in donning their doctoral hoods at the Graduation Ceremony.
Nishank Jain, M.D.
Larry Johnson, M.D.
Emily Kocurek, M.D.
Caroline Miles, M.D.
Hakan Paydak, M.D. Gold Sash, Senior (M4) Golden Apple.
Thomas Plugge, M.D.
Sandra Pruitt, M.D.
Manisha Singh, M.D.
Morgan Tripod, M.D.
Thomas “Ples” Spradley, M.D. Gold Sash, Junior (M3) Golden Apple
Toby Vancil, M.D.
Taylor Washburn, M.D.

Congratulations also to Medicine-Pediatrics Resident Taylor Winn, M.D., on his selection as Resident of the Year by the senior class!

Microbiology/Immunology

Karl Boehme, Ph.D.
James Craig Forrest, Ph.D.

Neuroscience

Noor Akhter, Ph.D.
David Davies, Ph.D.
Tiffany Huitt, Ph.D.
Erica Malone, Ph.D.
Kevin Phelan, Ph.D.
Mohsin Syed, Ph.D.

Neurology

Humaira Khan, M.D.
Scott Lucchese, M.D.
Hillary Williams, M.D.

Obstetrics/Gynecology

Katie Beal, M.D.
Joel Dickens, M.D.
Renee McGraw, M.D.
Luann Racher, M.D.
Monique Spillman, M.D., Ph.D.
Kate Stambough, M.D.
Lindsey Sward, M.D.  Dr. Sward also was selected by seniors to participate in donning their doctoral hoods at the Graduation Ceremony.
Alexis White, M.D.

Ophthalmology

Sami Uwaydat, M.D.

Pathology

Charles Matthew Quick, M.D.

Pediatrics

Carla Brown, M.D.
Courtney Cox, M.D.
Joshua Dailey, M.D.
Paul Drake, M.D.
Jacob Filipek, M.D.
Induja Gunasekaran, M.D.
Joana Mack, M.D.
Steven McKee, M.D.
Angela Scott, M.D., Ph.D.
Zackary Shearer, M.D.
Maxwell Taylor, M.D.
Keshari Thakali, Ph.D.
Aravindhan Veerapandiyan, M.D.

Psychiatry

Jessica Coker, M.D.
Margaret Ege-Woolley, M.D.
Lewis Krain, M.D.
Payton Lea, M.D.
Abigail Richison, M.D.
Samidha Tripathi, M.D.
Lindsey Wilbanks, M.D.

Surgery

Jeffrey Bell, M.D.
Richard Betzold, M.D.
Nolan Bruce, M.D.
Lyle Burdine, M.D., Ph.D.
Benjamin Davis, M.D.
Hanna Jensen, M.D., Ph.D.  Gold Sash, Sophomore (M2) Golden Apple
Mary Katherine Kimbrough, M.D.
Melissa Kost, M.D.
Matthew Roberts, M.D.
Christian Simmons, M.D., Ph.D.
Nicholas Tingquist, M.D.
Keith Wolter, M.D., Ph.D.
Deidre Wyrick, M.D.
James Yuen, M.D.

College of Public Health/Environmental Health Services

Mitchell McGill, Ph.D. (Secondary COM appointments in Pathology and Pharmacology/Toxicology)

Filed Under: News

UAMS College of Medicine Celebrates Faculty and Staff at 2025 Dean’s Honor Day

Dr. Lee Archer speaking at podium after receiving award
Robert “Lee” Archer, M.D., shares an anecdote at the podium after receiving the 2025 Dean’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award from the UAMS College of Medicine. (All ceremony photography is by Bryan Clifton.)

The College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) celebrated the achievements of faculty and staff at its annual Dean’s Honor Day ceremony on April 29, presenting awards for teaching, clinical care, research, administration, humanism and service. The college also recognized faculty members who are receiving promotion and/or tenure in 2025.

The ceremony culminated with the presentation of the Dean’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award to Robert L. “Lee” Archer, M.D., a professor and leader in the field of neurology in Arkansas who has served on the faculty since 1986, including seven years as chair of the Department of Neurology in 2016-2023.

“Dr. Archer has made unparalleled contributions in his field, to our college, and to the state of Arkansas for four decades,” Steven Webber, MBChB, executive vice chancellor of UAMS and dean of the College of Medicine,” said to a nearly full auditorium of faculty, staff and guests. “As many of you also know, Lee is a beloved physician and highly respected specialist in multiple sclerosis and related disorders of the nervous system, as well as a wonderful educator.”

Drs. Rohit Dhall, Steven Webber and Lee Archer on stage for presentation of award to Dr. Archer
Rohit Dhall, M.D., MSPH, (left) and Steven Webber, MBChB, (middle), present a commemorative art glass bowl to honoree R. Lee Archer, M.D.

Rohit Dhall, M.D., MSPH, who succeeded Archer as department chair, nominated him for the award. At the ceremony, he lauded Archer as a personal mentor and leader who substantially grew the department, established a strong culture of service, and made many clinical contributions including establishing the state’s multiple sclerosis clinic in 1987.

Archer has held numerous impactful college-wide service posts, including his current role as a member of the medical student Admissions Committee. His many statewide leadership roles have included president of the Arkansas Neurological Society and the Arkansas Medical Society and chair of the Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Association. Nationally, he has held key roles in the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Academy of Neurology and other professional organizations.

“Dr. Archer’s professional calling has been developing and providing the highest level of clinical excellence for people with neurological issues in the state of Arkansas,” Dhall said. “All over the state, when somebody needs help for a neurological issue – whether it is physician providers, including many he has trained, nurses or lay people – they call Dr. Archer, and he responds, often with deep compassion.”

After accepting the award, Archer paid tribute to his own mentor, Dennis Lucy Jr., M.D., who chaired Neurology from 1966 to 1994 and continued to serve at UAMS until retiring as a professor emeritus in 2015. Noting that Lucy was watching the ceremony livestream from home, Archer said he planned to give him his award, a commemorative art glass bowl, for his impact and for “setting the standard.” Archer also thanked his wife, Nancy, and colleagues.

“I always thought that practicing medicine – combining our knowledge, our science, with taking care of patients – would be extremely satisfying, and it has been,” Archer said. “But what has impressed me so much practicing here is the joy in working with a team of people.”

“Everyone here makes everyone else better,” Archer said. “I’m sure all of us remember the proverb, ‘Iron sharpens iron.’ And we do. We sharpen each other. We make each other better, and that’s such a joyful place.”

The College of Medicine established Dean’s Honor Day in 2011 to recognize the excellence of faculty and staff. At this year’s ceremony, awards were presented in 18 categories in addition to the Distinguished Faculty Service Award, with nominators describing each honoree’s impact on areas of the college’s mission.

In his welcome remarks, Webber congratulated the award winners as well as faculty members who are being promoted, and he thanked faculty and staff across the college for their contributions.

Dean Steven Webber, MBChB, emphasizes the contributions of all COM team members in his welcome remarks.

“Let’s remember that Dean’s Honor Day isn’t just about the awards and awardees,” Webber said. “None of us are successful in isolation. This is about each and every one of our team members. We all work in teams. So today is really an opportunity to recognize all the members of the College of Medicine, along with our UAMS colleagues across the different colleges, institutes and the clinical enterprise that all support the work of our college.”

Dr. Renee Bornemeier at podium

Renee Bornemeier, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and associate dean for faculty affairs, served as master of ceremonies. Bornemeier presented video tributes to faculty members who have been approved for promotion and/or tenure this year. In keeping with a college tradition, the videos feature favorite family, casual or professional photos of the faculty members.

Honorees and guests applaud College of Medicine faculty members who have been approved for promotion this year.

The College of Medicine is proud to recognize the 2025 honorees.

Click here to read all of the stories about the recipients below, or click on an award title in the list to go directly to the individual honoree’s profile.

Staff Excellence Awards

Staff Excellence – Education
Celia McCaslin

Program Manager
Department of Neuroscience

Staff Excellence – Research
Lauren Havens, B.A.

Research Associate III
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Staff Excellence – Clinical
Martha Thannisch, RNP, BSN
Patient Navigator
Thoracic Oncology Program

Staff Excellence – Administration
Jessica Bulmanski, M.S.
Assistant Chair/Department Administrator
Department of Neuroscience

Graduate Medical Education (GME) Educator Awards

GME Educator – Program Coordinator
Renee Baldwin
Program Coordinator
Pathology Residency Program

GME Educator – Program Director
Joana Mack, M.D.

Program Director, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Faculty Awards in Education, Research and Humanism

Master Teacher Award
Charles Matthew Quick, M.D.
Professor, Department of Pathology
Vice Chair of Anatomic Pathology, Director of Gynecologic Pathology
Director, Surgical Pathology Fellowship

Educational Innovation
Beatrice Boateng, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Associate Dean for Analytics and Strategy
Karina Clemmons, Ed.D.
Professor, Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics
Assistant Dean for Medical Education
Lindsey Sward, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Assistant Dean for Clinical Education

Educational Research
Joshua Daily, M.D., M.Ed.
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Director, Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship
Co-Director, Personal and Professional Financial Essentials for Physicians Course

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine
Presented with support from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation
Jonathan Laryea, M.D., M.Sc.

Professor and Vice Chair for Quality, Department of Surgery
Chief, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery
Medical Director of Inpatient Services and Medical Staff Affairs, Cancer Service Line
Nollie and Norma Mumey Endowed Chair in Surgery

Excellence in Research
Aline Andres, Ph.D., R.D.
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Interim Chief, Section of Developmental Nutrition
Associate Director, Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center

Clinical Excellence Awards

Outstanding Advanced Practice Provider
Shaneika Lewis-Williams, APRN
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Section of Community Pediatrics

Excellence in Quality and Safety
Deepa Raghavan, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Director, CAVHS Medical Intensive Care Unit

Excellence in Service & Professionalism
Kapil Arya, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Section of Pediatric Neurology
Child Neurology Residency Program Director

Best Consulting Physician
James Meek, D.O.

Associate Professor, Department of Radiology
Section Chief, Interventional Radiology
Medical Director, Interventional Radiology

Collaborations & Teamwork
Vascular Anomalies Team
Joana Mack, M.D., Medical Director
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Gresham Richter, M.D., Surgical Director
Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
and Colleagues

Rising Star Clinical Faculty
Stephen Dalby, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Section of Pediatric Cardiology

Physician of the Year
Viktoras Palys, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Surgical Director, Level 4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
Quality and Safety Officer, Neuroscience Service Line

Dean’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award

Robert L. “Lee” Archer, M.D.
Professor, Department of Neurology
Major and Ruth Nodini Chair in Neurology for MS and Related Disorders

Watch the video tribute to associate professors.

Watch the video tribute to professors, distinguished professors and emeritus faculty.

Download a list of the 2025 promotion and tenure honorees.

Watch the video recording of the ceremony.

Photos by Bryan Clifton

Filed Under: College of Medicine

Dean’s Honor Day 2025: Meet our Honorees

The UAMS College of Medicine is pleased to introduce the recipients of the 2025 Dean’s Honor Day awards. The faculty and staff members highlighted on this page were recognized at an April 29 ceremony for their outstanding work and service in clinical care, research, administration and humanism.

Drs. Rohit Dhall, Steven Webber and Lee Archer on stage for presentation of award to Dr. Archer
Nominator Rohit Dhall, M.D., MSPH, and Dean Steven Webber, MBChB, present the Distinguished Faculty Service Award to Lee Archer, M.D. (right). All ceremony photography is by Brian Clifton.

The ceremony culminated with the presentation of the Dean’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award to Robert L. “Lee” Archer, M.D., a professor and leader in the field of neurology in Arkansas who has served on the faculty since 1986, including seven years as chair of the Department of Neurology in 2016-2023.

Read more about Archer and the ceremony overall in the 2025 Dean’s Honor Day main feature story.

Watch the video recording of the ceremony.

Watch the video tribute to associate professors.

Watch the video tribute to professors, distinguished professors and emeritus faculty.

Download a list of the 2025 promotion and tenure honorees.

Congratulations to the following 2025 award winners!

Staff Excellence Awards

Staff Excellence – Education
Celia McCaslin

Program Manager
Department of Neuroscience

Dr. David Davies presenting award to Celia McCaslin
David Davies, Ph.D., presents the Staff Excellence Award for Education to Celia McCaslin (right).

Celia McCaslin provides outstanding service to the College of Medicine’s education mission as program director for the Anatomical Gift Program and through other activities in the Department of Neuroscience that are essential for medical education.

The Anatomical Gift Program is the authorized mechanism in Arkansas for obtaining donated bodies for the study of human anatomy by medical students, other UAMS learners, faculty and health professionals. A key course for first-year medical students is the Human Structure module, which is directed by David Davies, Ph.D., professor of Neuroscience, who nominated McCaslin.

“Celia works with prospective donors and their families before death to help them understand how the Anatomical Gift Program helps our students – future physicians – learn the intricacies of human anatomy,” Davies said. “Celia handles all of these interactions with exceptional respect, sensitivity and clarity of communication.”

In his nomination letter, Davies said McCaslin provides robust support for other aspects of gross anatomy education and related scholarly work by students and faculty. He said she has also gladly shouldered additional tasks whenever needed. 

Staff Excellence – Research
Lauren Havens, B.A.

Research Associate III
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Dr. Andrew Morris presenting award to Lauren Havens
Andrew Morris, Ph.D., presents the Staff Excellence Award for Research to Lauren Havens, B.A. (right).

Lauren Havens, B.A., provides crucial expertise and laboratory leadership for College of Medicine researchers working at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS), Arkansas Children’s Hospital and UAMS campus.

Havens is an expert in the identification and quantification of small molecules using mass spectrometry. She manages a laboratory at CAVHS that was established by Andrew Morris, Ph.D., to measure environmental chemicals in support of large population health studies exploring the effects of the chemicals on people’s health. Havens also works with investigators on measurements of these chemicals for studies supported by the National Institutes of Health.

“Lauren has made huge contributions and has had a big impact on research at UAMS and also at our partner institutions,” Morris, a professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the College of Medicine and Research Career Scientist with CAVHS, said when presenting the award. He added that Havens is a meticulous researcher, excellent laboratory manager and works well with academic collaborators.

Morris co-nominated Havens with Aline Andres, Ph.D., R.D., a professor in the Department of Pediatrics and associate director of the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center. In their nomination letter, Morris and Andres said Havens has made extensive contributions to research publications and ongoing and new research project awards and applications.

Staff Excellence – Clinical
Martha Thannisch, RNP, BSN
Patient Navigator
Thoracic Oncology Program

Matt Steliga presenting award to Martha Thannisch on stage
Matthew Steliga, M.D., presents the Clinical Staff Excellence Award to Martha Thannisch, RNP, BSN (right).

Martha Thannisch, RNP, BSN, has helped to ensure the best possible personalized care for cancer patients at UAMS for 42 years, including in her current position as a patient navigator in the multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program.

“Martha serves as the patient navigator for our team, but she is so much more than a patient navigator,” said Matthew Steliga, M.D., professor and chief of Thoracic Surgery. “She navigates for all of us, including me and all our other clinicians. It’s an incredible job and it’s a tough job.”

Patients in the program often receive difficult, life-changing news, Steliga explained. “The biopsy shows cancer. Your scan has a concerning mass. Your cancer might be back. Martha puts them on the right track, the right direction, with kindness, compassion and incredible knowledge.”

Steliga said Thannisch, who will retire this year, has served as the “dedicated hub” of a complex and comprehensive multidisciplinary team. “Our entire thoracic oncology program is incredibly dedicated to Martha for her lifelong services she has given to our institution, the physicians, nurses, APRNs, and all the patients and families we serve.”

Staff Excellence – Administration
Jessica Bulmanski, M.S.
Assistant Chair/Department Administrator
Department of Neuroscience

Paul Drew presenting award to Jessica Bulmanski on stage
Paul Drew, Ph.D., presents the Staff Excellence Award for Administration to Jessica Bulmanski, M.S. (right).

Jessica Bulmanski, M.S., brings administrative expertise and a strong work ethic to her role as assistant chair and department administrator for the Department of Neuroscience.

“The transition of a new chair can be challenging, but I am pleased that we have made significant progress in revitalizing the Department of Neuroscience,” said Bulmanski’s nominator, Paul Drew, Ph.D., who began serving as chair last July. “This progress would not have been possible without the administrative leadership of Jessica.”

Drew lauded Bulmanski for her work to hire and train additional staff and to enhance the “face of the department” through website improvements and other communications. He said her commitment to excellence was clear in previous roles including administrative leadership of the College of Medicine Office of Research. Likewise, she has taken on additional current responsibilities as interim business manager for the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology.

“Jessica has an incredible work ethic,” Drew said. “She has done a remarkable job, and ultimately, she is someone who will continue to serve as an excellent administrative leader in the college for years to come.”

Graduate Medical Education (GME) Educator Awards

GME Educator – Program Coordinator
Renee Baldwin
Program Coordinator
Pathology Residency Program

Molly Gathright presenting award to Renee Baldwin on stage
Molly Gathright, M.D., presents the GME Educator – Program Coordinator Award to Renee Baldwin.

Renee Baldwin has brought over 25 years of excellence and tireless dedication to graduate medical education across residency and fellowship programs in Pathology, Internal Medicine and Family Medicine. In 2022, she returned to the Department of Pathology, where she first served in 1999-2012.

Molly Gathright, M.D., executive associate dean for graduate medical education, shared accolades from Baldwin’s nominators including current and former program directors and residents, who described her as “the backbone of the program.”

“Renee is known for her unwavering commitment, expert knowledge and genuine care of our pathology residents,” Gathright said. “A former program director shared, ‘Renee Baldwin is by far the best coordinator I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She is a needle in the haystack.’”

Gathright said Baldwin’s impact extends beyond “flawless organization” of the program. “She has created a nurturing and supportive environment where residents feel truly cared for. Whether it is supporting vital resources, mentoring residents or simply leaving heartfelt notes and a batch of cookies for our residents, Renee’s compassion and excellence shines with every interaction.”

GME Educator – Program Director
Joana Mack, M.D.

Program Director, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Molly Gathright presenting award to Joana Mack on stage
Molly Gathright, M.D., presents the GME Educator – Program Director Award to Joana Mack, M.D. (right).

Joana Mack, M.D., has provided remarkable mentorship, education and advocacy as program director for the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship since 2019.

“Dr. Mack’s trainees speak of her unwavering support and guidance and credit her for profoundly shaping their careers and passions,” Molly Gathright, M.D., executive associate dean for graduate medical education, said when presenting the award. “One fellow shared this: ‘Her ability to recognize and nurture individual interests has given me a renewed sense of excitement and purpose in my career.’ That’s all any of us can ask for in a mentor.”

Gathright said Mack always goes above and beyond for her trainees, often connecting them with national leaders to create opportunities that accelerate their growth and excellence. Mack’s commitment to learners extends to residents and medical students, in addition to the fellows in her program. She has developed a dedicated lecture series for medical students and residents rotating through the hematology/oncology service. Her efforts also have led to an institution-wide initiative that encourages collaborative research and conference presentations at regional and national levels.

“Dr. Mack truly embodies the spirit of mentorship, innovation and dedication that defines outstanding medical education,” Gathright said.

Faculty Awards in Education, Research and Humanism

Master Teacher Award
Charles Matthew Quick, M.D.
Professor, Department of Pathology
Vice Chair of Anatomic Pathology, Director of Gynecologic Pathology
Director, Surgical Pathology Fellowship

Jennifer Laudadio presenting award to Matt Quick on stage
Jennifer Laudadio, M.D., presents the Master Teacher Award to Charles Matthew Quick, M.D. (right).

Charles Matthew Quick, M.D., has made significant and innovative contributions to medical education at UAMS since joining the faculty in 2011.

“Dr. Quick’s enthusiasm for teaching is infectious,” said nominator Jennifer Laudadio, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pathology. “In the words of his students, he is amazing, charismatic and funny, and one of the best professors in the College of Medicine.”

“He is a wonderful mentor and dedicated educator to students, trainees and his peers,” Laudadio said, noting that Quick’s efforts have garnered numerous teaching honors, including four Golden Apple awards from medical students, the COM Outstanding Teacher Award, and the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

Quick has been integral in many educational initiatives for medical students, including the recent development of an advanced surgical pathology clerkship for senior medical students planning careers in the field. He has served on key educational committees including the college’s curriculum committee and a committee focused on team-based learning.  

“Dr. Quick’s passion for teaching extends to the residents and fellows in pathology,” Laudadio said. “He typically carries the maximum number of mentees that we allow a single faculty member to have, and he is a role model for what an academic pathologist should be.” Quick is also an active educator at the national level, she said.

Educational Innovation
Beatrice Boateng, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Associate Dean for Analytics and Strategy
Karina Clemmons, Ed.D.
Professor, Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics
Assistant Dean for Medical Education
Lindsey Sward, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Assistant Dean for Clinical Education

Sharanda Williams, Karina Clemmons, Beatrice Boatengh and Lindsey Sward on stage
Sharanda Williams, M.A. (left) presents Educational Innovation Award to Karina Clemmons, Ed.D., Beatrice Boateng, Ph.D., and Lindsey Sward, M.D.

This year’s Educational Innovation Award goes to a team of educators who collaborated to develop and launch the College of Medicine Student Progress Dashboard. The team includes Beatrice Boateng, Ph.D., Karina Clemmons, Ed.D., and Lindsey Sward, M.D.

“The dashboard collates data to provide a comprehensive view of progress over the student life cycle,” said nominator Sharanda Williams, M.A., Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. “This innovative tool allows educational leaders to see entrance exam scores and other early assessments of preparedness for the rigors of medical school, risk and Step exam scores, information on our graduates and residency placement, and much more.”

“The dashboard provides a holistic visualization of how our students are doing, which is important both for informing interventions when needed and for academic programming,” Williams said. “Significantly, it enhances our ability to provide early interventions, which is directly tied to student retention.”

The Student Progress Dashboard has proven to be valuable for the Dean’s Office, the UAMS Educational and Student Success Center, faculty course directors and the college’s academic house advisors.

Educational Research
Joshua Daily, M.D., M.Ed.
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Director, Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship
Co-Director, Personal and Professional Financial Essentials for Physicians Course

Murad Almasri presenting award to Joshua Daily on stage
Murad Almasri, M.D., presents the Educational Research Award to Joshua Daily, M.D. (right).

Josh Daily, M.D., M.Ed., exemplifies the very best of academic medicine with a deep commitment to building bridges between clinical excellence, education and scholarly discovery.

“Armed with both an M.D. and a master’s in medical education, Dr. Daily has led transformative initiatives,” said nominator Murad Almasri, M.D., an assistant professor and colleague of Daily in the Section of Pediatric Cardiology. He noted Daily’s work to create education and research-focused curricula for fellows as director of the Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, and his leadership of the Personal and Professional Financial Essentials for Physicians course for medical students.

“Dr. Daily’s mentorship has guided countless fellows and residents to research success, with his mentees winning awards and publishing impactful work,” Almasri said. “His own scholarship, spanning topics from congenital heart disease to physician financial wellness, is cited and well respected.”

“Dr. Daily doesn’t just teach research; he inspires it,” Almasri said. “His legacy is not just in what he has published, but in the culture of inquiry he has cultivated. Today we recognize a physician who reminds us that the best educators don’t just fill minds – they light them on fire.”

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine
Presented with support from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation
Jonathan Laryea, M.D., M.Sc.

Professor and Vice Chair for Quality, Department of Surgery
Chief, Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery
Medical Director of Inpatient Services and Medical Staff Affairs, Cancer Service Line
Nollie and Norma Mumey Endowed Chair in Surgery

Katie Kimbrough presenting award to Jonathan Laryea on stage
Mary Katherine Kimbrough, M.D., presents the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award to Jonathan Laryea, M.D., M.Sc. (right).

Jonathan Laryea, M.D., M.Sc., is a gifted colorectal surgeon whose life work is a testament to compassion, justice and a deep personal calling to serve those most in need.

Laryea, who joined UAMS in 2008, is professor and vice chair for quality in the Department of Surgery and chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery. He has advanced the field not only through superb surgical care, pioneering research and innovative clinical trials, but also by sharing his expertise in underserved communities around the globe, wrote his nominator, Ronald Robertson, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Surgery.

Surgery colleague Katie Kimbrough, M.D., elaborated as she presented the award to Laryea on behalf of the department and Robertson, who was unable to attend the ceremony. “His efforts have transformed surgical care across western Africa, founding the first colorectal fellowship in Ghana, training surgeons in Liberia, and leading missions in Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia, where he not only performed life-saving surgeries, but mentored the next generation of caregivers, as he does here at UAMS,” Kimbrough said.

“Dr. Laryea’s legacy is measured not only in clinical advances across the world and here at UAMS, but in lives changed, health care systems strengthened, and hope restored,” Kimbrough said.

Excellence in Research
Aline Andres, Ph.D., R.D.
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Interim Chief, Section of Developmental Nutrition
Associate Director, Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center

Elisabet Borsheim presenting award to Aline Andres on stage
Elisabet Borsheim, Ph.D., presents the Excellence in Research Award to Aline Andres, Ph.D., R.D. (right).

Aline Andres, Ph.D., R.D., is a leading expert in nutrition who has contributed substantially to understanding the impact of nutrition during critical periods of maternal and infant development.

A professor of Pediatrics, Andres has served as associate director of the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center (ACNC) since 2021 and as interim chief for the Section of Developmental Nutrition since 2024. Nominators including Pediatrics Chair William Steinbach, M.D., Elisabet Børsheim, Ph.D., interim director of ACNC, and Taren Massey-Swindle, Ph.D., noted Andres’ strong record of funding from the USDA and National Institutes of Health (NIH), and more than 110 research publications.

“Dr. Andres is recognized for her groundbreaking studies on maternal and infant nutrition and health using multidisciplinary approaches,” Børsheim said when presenting the award. “She was also selected as one of only 20 nationally recognized nutrition experts to serve on the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA. This demonstrates the highest level of expertise in human nutrition.”

Andres and her team also recently received $3 million from the NIH to study how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – so-called “forever chemicals” – impact child development. Nominators also cited her strong commitment to mentorship, collaboration, and initiatives to support other researchers.

Clinical Excellence Awards

Outstanding Advanced Practice Provider
Shaneika Lewis-Williams, APRN
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Section of Community Pediatrics

Chenia Eubanks presenting award to Shaneika Lewis-Williams on stage
Chenia Eubanks, M.D., MPH, presents the Clinical Excellence-Outstanding Advanced Practice Provider Award to Shaneika Lewis-Williams, APRN (right).

Shaneika Lewis-Williams, APRN, provides pediatric primary care in the Arkansas Children’s school-based health clinics with compassion and a fervor that inspires everyone around her.

“Shaneika has transformed the lives of countless children and their families through her excellence,” said nominator Chenia Eubanks, M.D., MPH, Chief of the Section of Community Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics.

As one example, Eubanks told about the tenacity and significant time Lewis-Williams put into obtaining dental services for a young boy with severe tooth decay. “This story exemplifies the extraordinary lengths she will go to for her patients,” she said. “Shaneika leaves an indelible mark on every patient, every family and every colleague she encounters.”

To illustrate what drives Lewis-Williams in her work, Eubanks shared the APRN’s own comments after receiving a recent award for her work in the school-based health clinics. “This work is not easy, but we get up every day and we do it with love and care,” Eubanks relayed. “This is truly what we do from the heart, because it takes long hours, dedication and fighting for what our patients and families need.”

Excellence in Quality and Safety
Deepa Raghavan, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Director, CAVHS Medical Intensive Care Unit

Manish Joshi presenting award to Deepa Raghavan on stage
Manish Joshi, M.D., presents the Clinical Excellence-Quality and Safety Award to Deepa Raghavan, M.D. (right).

Deepa Raghavan, M.D., has made strides to enhance the quality and safety of care for veterans at the Central Arkansas Veterans Health care System. Raghavan, an associate professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, serves as director of the CAVHS Medical Intensive Care Unit.

“Dr. Raghavan is a quality champion for our veterans,” one of her nominators, Manish Joshi, M.D., a professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, said when presenting the award. “Her efforts over the last decade have made a significant impact in our veterans’ health care.”

“Whether it’s for our sickest patients in the ICU, or our outpatients, Dr. Raghavan has made an effort to improve every step in the quality of care we provide,” Joshi said.

In their letters of nomination, Joshi and John Arthur, M.D., professor and director of the Division of Nephrology, cited numerous impactful projects Raghavan has led to improve quality and safety. Recent examples include initiatives to reduce hospital acute care mortality, improve COPD guideline-based care in primary care, prevent sepsis and improve performance measures in this area, reduce falls in acute care units, and more.

Excellence in Service and Professionalism
Kapil Arya, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Section of Pediatric Neurology
Child Neurology Residency Program Director

Dave Walters presenting award to Kapil Arya on stage
W. Dave Walters, M.D., MPH, presents the Clinical Excellence-Service and Professionalism Award to Kapil Arya, M.D. (right).

Kapil Arya, M.D., has led transformative advancements in the diagnosis and care of Arkansas children with a rare and devastating neurological disease.

“Dr. Arya has served the children of Arkansas by establishing the state’s only multidisciplinary spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) care center,” said nominator W. Dave Walters, M.D., MPH, assistant professor of pediatrics and a colleague of Arya in the Division of Pediatric Neurology.

If not detected and treated within a few weeks of birth, SMA can be debilitating and often fatal. “It maims and kills otherwise normal babies and children, slowly stealing them away from their future and their families,” Walters explained when presenting the award. Starting in 2016, new medications became available to “slay the dragon and bring children back to normal life and normal life expectancy.”

Arya was instrumental in advocacy efforts, in partnership with organizations, legislators and others, that led to the Arkansas General Assembly’s passage of a 2019 law requiring newborn screening for SMA. However, a complex system was still needed for the screening to become routine across the state. Arya led the development of this system and continues to serve as the state’s leader and advocate for the care of children with SMA.

Best Consulting Physician
James Meek, D.O.

Associate Professor, Department of Radiology
Section Chief, Interventional Radiology
Medical Director, Interventional Radiology

Matt Steliga presenting award to James Meek in advance of ceremony in a clinical procedure room
Matthew Steliga, M.D., presents the Clinical Excellence-Best Consulting Physician Award to James Meek, D.O., (right) a few days prior to the ceremony, which Dr. Meek was unable to attend.

James Meek, D.O., brings far more than his expertise in interventional radiology to his leadership of IR consulting and services at UAMS.

“Dr. Meek is an incredibly skilled IR technician, but it is more than just technical skill,” co-nominator Matthew Steliga, M.D., chief of thoracic surgery, said when presenting the award. “He has an incredible attitude for serving patients, for serving the institution and serving other doctors.”

“UAMS is the proud home of a Level 1 trauma center, an incredible, successful and growing transplant program, and the state’s most comprehensive cancer center, among many, many other valuable programs,” Steliga said. “None of these programs could be where they are without the dedication and expertise of Dr. Meek. And it’s not just him. He sets that example for his entire division, and his entire division follows his lead for patient care and institutional service.”

In their nomination letter, Steliga and fellow nominators Mary Katherine Kimbrough, M.D., professor in the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Division, and Lyle Burdine, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor and chief of the Transplant Surgery Division, cited Meek’s exceptional work as a consulting physician, meticulous attention to detail, communication skills and professionalism.

Collaborations & Teamwork
Vascular Anomalies Team
Joana Mack, M.D., Medical Director
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Gresham Richter, M.D., Surgical Director
Professor and Chief of Pediatric Otolaryngology
and Colleagues

Presenter David Becton with 7 members of Vascular Anomalies team on stage
David Becton, M.D. (far left) presents the Clinical Excellence-Collaboration & Teamwork Award to Medical Director Joana Mack, M.D. (second from left) and several additional members of the Vascular Anomalies Team.

The multidisciplinary Vascular Anomalies Center of Excellence exemplifies teamwork in its care for children with complex vascular anomalies.

Based at Arkansas Children’s, the center brings together specialists from many disciplines including hematology/oncology, otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, interventional radiology, orthopedics, psychology, gynecology, along with many professional support staff members. Hematologist/oncologist Joana Mack, M.D., is medical director, and pediatric otolaryngologist Gresham Richer, M.D., is surgical director.

“The team breaks down traditional silos between specialties, working in unison to define and resolve complex medical challenges,” Mack wrote in the nomination letter for her colleagues. “They have established a highly effective model of care, where regular multidisciplinary discussions, shared decision-making and streamlined coordination result in exceptional patient outcomes.”

“Children with vascular anomalies have very complicated problems that affect their whole lives,” David Becton, M.D., professor and chief of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, explained when presenting the award. “The (various anomalies) are all very different. Some are treated with medicines; some are treated with surgeries; some with scleroderma, all kinds of things. Many will need a lot of other support, such as social workers, psychologists, etc.”

“Within a very short period of time, the center has become an outstanding program that provides great service, care, leadership, excellence and compassion for children who are afflicted with these very significant disorders,” Becton said. “It is an amazing program that has really become a national leader.”  

Rising Star Clinical Faculty
Stephen Dalby, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Section of Pediatric Cardiology

Joshua Daily presenting award to Stephen Dalby on stage
Joshua Daily, M.D., presents the Clinical Excellence-Rising Star Award to Stephen Dalby, M.D. (right).

Stephen Dalby, M.D., is already known for making groundbreaking advancements in the catheterization lab just two years after becoming a faculty member.

Co-nominator Josh Daily, M.D., M.Ed., director of the Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, said Dalby was a standout even as a medical student at UAMS. After completing his residency and pediatric cardiology fellowship at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s, Dalby continued his training with an advanced pediatric cardiology fellowship at the University of California San Diego.

“We were lucky enough to get him to come back to Arkansas to join our team about two years ago, and he has absolutely excelled in every area since then,” Daily said when presenting the award. “He has been identified as a leader since day one for multiple reasons. He is thoughtful, he makes great decisions, he is highly skilled in the cath lab, and he is excellent with his patients. He has quickly been recognized as our go-to person when we have a complex infant with congenital heart disease.”

In his nomination letter, Daily noted that Dalby already has an impressive body of scholarly work, including numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts in respected journals and presentations at national conferences. “His accomplishments as a junior faculty member are remarkable and position him to be a leader in the field, both locally and nationally.” Co-nominators Brian Eble, M.D., and Lawrence Greiten, M.D., M.Sc., shared similar observations in their letters of recommendation.

Physician of the Year
Viktoras Palys, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Surgical Director, Level 4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
Quality and Safety Officer, Neuroscience Service Line

Sisira Yadala presenting award to Viktoras Palys on stage
Sisira Yadala, M.D., presents the Clinical Excellence-Physician of the Year Award to Viktoras Palys, M.D. (right).

Viktoras Palys, M.D., has dramatically expanded access to life-changing neurosurgical care for epilepsy patients in Arkansas.

Palys, the only CAST (Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training) accredited epilepsy surgeon in the state, has served as surgical director for UAMS’ Level 4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Center since 2018.

“Dr. Palys is more than a skilled surgeon – he is a true pioneer in epilepsy care,” said nominator Sisira Yadala, M.D., associate professor of Neurology and director of the epilepsy center. “He has performed several first-in-state procedures, including the implantation of advanced brain stimulators for drug-resistant epilepsy. He has led over 120 robotic surgeries, firmly establishing UAMS as a center of excellence in minimally invasive epilepsy surgery. Most notably, as part of a groundbreaking clinical trial we led together, Dr. Palys became the first surgeon ever to transplant inhibitory neurons into a functional human hippocampus.”

Yadala said Palys’ impact extends beyond the operating room as an educator, researcher and advocate for epilepsy patients. “I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Palys almost six years and have seen, time and again, his exceptional dedication to patient care, his bold clinical leadership and unwavering drive to push the boundaries of innovation,” Yadala said.

Dean’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award

Robert L. “Lee” Archer, M.D.
Professor, Department of Neurology
Major and Ruth Nodini Chair in Neurology for MS and Related Disorders

Read more about Dr. Archer in the 2025 Dean’s Honor Day main feature story.

All ceremony photos by Bryan Clifton

Filed Under: College of Medicine

Accolades – April 16, 2025

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.

Inspiring Future Scientists and Clinicians
An important part of our mission is to inspire the next generation of scientists and clinicians. Laboratory experiences and mentoring provided by faculty members, staff and graduate students in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology have contributed to impressive research and award-winning presentations at local, regional and statewide competitions by several Arkansas high school students. Now, students Nyera Ali, Akshara Chevireddy, Carmella Lewis and Meera Patel have been invited to compete in either the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair – the world’s largest STEM research competition for high school students – or the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.

The students’ mentors include faculty members Wayne Wahls, Alicia Byrd and Robert Eoff, Staff Scientist Dr. Reine Protacio, and graduate students Ben May, Reham Sewilam and Bethany Paxton. Kudos to these team members and all of you who devote time to mentoring young Arkansans. For stories about the students and their projects, click here.

National Leadership in Obstetric Anesthesia
Dr. Jill Mhyre, Professor and Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology as Chair of its Research Committee. Dr. Mhyre will lend her expertise to the society’s work to advance and advocate for the health of pregnant women and their babies through research, education and best practices in obstetric anesthesia care for a three-year term starting in July.

Highschoolers Learn about Kidney Transplants
The UAMS Northwest Regional Campus recently hosted an engaging workshop focused on the kidneys and kidney transplantation for ninth graders from four area school districts. The workshop was co-led by Dr. Kevin Phelan, Professor of Neuroscience, and transplant surgeon Dr. John Montgomery, Assistant Professor of Surgery. Dr. Phelan is Program Director of the NIAID-funded AR Tech DaSH (Arkansas Technology and Data Science in Health & Medicine) R25 grant, which funded the workshop. Thanks also to medical student volunteers Cade Richesin (M1) and Chloe Cline (M3), along with Education Coordinators Ana Sanchez and Sandra Perez. Eighteen students participated in a full day of hands-on activities. Learn more and see photos from the event in this UAMS Northwest Facebook post.

Student Volunteers Still Key to Popular “Girlology” Workshops
Medical student volunteers have been essential to the smashing success of the “Girlology” workshops hosted by Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology about twice a year since 2022. The latest sold-out workshop to help girls ages 8-14 face puberty with greater confidence, held at UAMS on April 6, was no exception. Special thanks to third-year student and volunteer coordinator Ashton Jones, along with students Khadeeja Asif, Shazeena Ashraf, Bailey Bean, Alexandra Carrasquillo, Makenzie Cole, Eliana John, Jade-Michael Matthews, Tessa Moore, Macy Owens and Naya Taylor. OB/GYN Chair Dr. Nirvana Manning and faculty members Dr. Kathryn Stambough and Dr. Laura Hollenbach aren’t resting on their laurels. In addition to hosting future Girlology workshops, they are working to plan Arkansas’ first-ever “Guyology” puberty education program for boys.

Filed Under: Accolades

Accolades – April 9, 2025

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 Executive Leadership Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr. Shelley Crary, Professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, on being accepted for the prestigious Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program at Drexel University. The year-long fellowship program is designed to help women faculty develop additional skills for senior leadership in today’s complex health care environment. Dr. Crary was selected from a highly competitive field of nominees from schools of medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy across the country.

I was delighted to nominate Dr. Crary on behalf of our college, with enthusiastic support from Dr. Bill Steinbach, Professor and Chair of Pediatrics, and other colleagues. Dr. Crary currently serves as Medical Director of the Arkansas Center for Bleeding Disorders and Associate Director of the UAMS Translational Research Institute’s Clinical and Translational Science Pilot Program. She serves in numerous other leadership roles at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s and has demonstrated a deep commitment to education and mentorship. Dr. Crary will be a strong addition to the ELAM program.

Agitation in Dementia Treatment Study in Nature Medicine
Dr. Prasad Padala, Professor of Psychiatry and Geriatrics and Program Director of the Baptist Health-UAMS Psychiatry Residency, is a co-author on a paper on management of agitation in dementia patients published in the journal Nature Medicine. The article reports the results of a randomized, controlled phase-3 clinical trial addressing the efficacy and safety of using the antidepressant escitalopram to treat agitation in Alzheimer’s patients. Treatment of agitation in dementia is complex and requires an interdisciplinary approach. Other VA/UAMS researchers who collaborated in the study included Drs. Kalpana Padala, Jeanne Wei and Gohar Azhar from the Department of Geriatrics and Dr. Lou Ann Eads from the Department of Psychiatry.

Top Honors at Biodesign Competition – Again!
We were thrilled to hear that a UAMS student team has won the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Biodesign competition for a second year in a row. Congratulations to team leader Josue Calderon (M2) and team members Mohib Hafeez (M3), Harrison Williams (M2), Nathania Nischal (M1) and Rodrigo Meade (M1). The team won both the People’s Choice Award and First Place for their design of the “FrostShield Duo,” an AI-enhanced thermal protection device for use in cryoablation procedures. The competition was held at the SIR Annual Scientific Meeting in Nashville, the largest professional gathering of interventional radiologists in North America. The team’s mentors included Interventional Radiology Residents Dr. Jeffrey Lynch and Dr. Alex Koichi, and Associate Professor Dr. James Meek. Click here for a team photo and more information about their project. (And here’s info about last year’s winning team.)

National Otolaryngology Honor
Dr. Deepa Shivnani
, a Pediatric Fellow in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, has been selected to receive the Maureen Hannley Award for Alternative Science from the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society (the Triological Society). The award is for excellence on her candidate thesis for election to active fellowship in the society, titled “Role of Pediatric Otolaryngologist in Pediatric Tracheostomy Code Blue Cases – a New Safety Initiative.” She will present her thesis at the Triological Society Annual Meeting in New Orleans on May 15 and will be formally elected the following day. The honor is bestowed annually to acknowledge the importance of scholastic contributions that fall outside of traditional basic and clinical research paradigms.

Award-Winning Pathology Resident Research
PGY3 Pathology resident Dr. Evgeniya Pasternak received the Pathologist-in-Training Best Abstract Award from the Renal Pathology Society at the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP) Annual Meeting in Boston for “Increased Prevalence of IgA Nephropathy in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis.” Three additional residents, all PGY2s, also presented their work at USCAP: Drs. Carli Cox, Katie Hart and Kate Janda. USCAP is the top academic pathology meeting each year.

Medical Student Honored for Pathology Activities
Graduating senior Jake Price has been selected to receive the Distinguished Medical Student Award from the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Jake, who was nominated by Assistant Professor Dr. Hoda Hagrass, has been involved in pathology-focused scholarly work, clinical preceptorships and other activities throughout medical school. His research focusing on clinical chemistry resulted in the publication of two papers, one of which he presented at the Society of Toxicology annual meeting. Jake served as Vice President of the Student Club on Pathology Education (SCOPE) in his third year and as President this academic year. He will head for Baylor College of Medicine in Houston for his Pathology residency after graduation.

Filed Under: Accolades

Recent Faculty Appointments – March 2025

Please join us in welcoming these recent additions to the College of Medicine faculty.

Department of Dermatology

Justin M. McLawhorn, M.D.

Dr. Justin McLawhorn

Justin McLawhorn, M.D., has joined the Department of Dermatology as an Assistant Professor and Director of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology. Dr. McLawhorn received his medical degree from UAMS in 2017. He completed his residency in dermatology and internship in internal medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. McLawhorn continued his training with a fellowship in micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

Serving in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Dr. McLawhorn specializes in the treatment of skin cancers, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. He is skilled in treating many cancers with Mohs micrographic surgery, the most precise and advanced treatment for skin cancer, yielding success rates of up to 99%. Before joining UAMS, Dr. McLawhorn was in private practice in Little Rock.

Department of Internal Medicine

Bhupendar Tayal, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Bhupendar Tayal

Bhupendar Tayal, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiology. Dr. Tayal received his medical degree from Gauhati University in Guwahati, India, in 2007. He earned his doctorate in clinical medicine and cardiology at Aalborg University in Denmark, where we went on to complete a fellowship in general cardiology and internal medicine. Dr. Tayal continued his training with a fellowship in advanced multimodality cardiovascular imaging at Houston Methodist Hospital.

Prior to his recruitment to UAMS, Dr. Tayal had served since 2022 as an Assistant Professor of internal medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and as a staff cardiologist at University Hospitals, Harrington Heart and Vascular Center, at Cleveland Medical Center in Ohio.

Dr. Tayal’s clinical and research interests focus on advancing cardiovascular care with a particular emphasis on multimodal imaging techniques to improve patient outcomes.

Filed Under: Faculty Updates

Longtime Faculty Member Sanjaya Viswamitra, MBBS, Named Chair of Radiology in UAMS College of Medicine

Sanjaya Viswamitra, MBBS, DABR, DABNM, professor and chief of Emergency Radiology in the  Department of Radiology in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine, has been named chair of the department, effective April 1. Viswamitra has served as interim chair since last August.

“Dr. Viswamitra has done a great job leading our Radiology programs for the past eight months, following more than 23 years of previous service in the department,” Steven Webber, MBChB, executive vice chancellor and dean, said in an announcement to faculty. “He is widely recognized for his expertise in cardiac imaging and his longtime work in nuclear medicine. He also has been instrumental in building our clinical and educational endeavors in emergency radiology.”

Viswamitra received his medical degree at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in India. He completed his fellowship in nuclear medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and continued his training with a residency in diagnostic radiology at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center and Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York, followed by a fellowship in body imaging at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Viswamitra joined the UAMS faculty as an assistant professor in the Nuclear Medicine and Body Imaging divisions in January 2001. He was promoted to associate professor in 2012 and to professor in 2020. Early leadership roles included division chief for Body MRI and MSK MRI in 2002-2007. He was named inaugural chief of the Division of Emergency Radiology in 2023.

Viswamitra is active nationally and internationally in professional organizations including the Radiological Society of North America and the American Roentgen Ray Society, which have recognized him for his excellence and extensive service as a reviewer for the journals Radiology and American Journal of Roentgenology, respectively. He served as secretary and subsequently as president of the Indian Association of Cardiac Imaging, and he continues to serve as executive chairman of the organization. Viswamitra also has served as an executive committee member of the Asian Society of Cardiac Imaging. He has authored more than 60 articles, book chapters and other publications.

Filed Under: College of Medicine

Accolades – March 26, 2025

What a Match!
Congratulations to our graduating seniors and to our residency programs on a very successful Match last week. The Class of 2025 celebrated Match Day on Friday, with most learning where they will complete their residency training with the opening of envelopes among family, classmates and faculty at the Statehouse Convention Center.

We are thrilled that 100% of our seniors who participated in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) obtained a position in the highly competitive process. We look forward to having 74 of these seniors join outstanding Arkansas residency programs in July. Ninety-four matched to other residencies across the nation, including programs at top institutions and in exceptionally competitive specialties. Nearly half will train in primary care positions. (See where everyone is headed in this 2025 Match List.)

Meanwhile, UAMS residency programs also had one of the most successful Match Days ever. We are very pleased that all first-year positions in the 23 COM-sponsored residency programs participating in the NRMP main Match filled. Across all UAMS and UAMS co-sponsored programs, 261 new resident physicians will begin their training this summer. 

A great Match Day doesn’t just happen. We have phenomenal students! But it’s important to remember that the success of our students and our training programs is also the result of the dedication of faculty and staff across our college. Many thanks to all of you who contribute to undergraduate and graduate medical education at UAMS.

Simulation and Surgical Education Special Series
Dr. Karen Dickinson, Assistant Professor of Surgery and Director of IPE Simulation and Clinical Skills Training, successfully pitched an idea for a special series on simulation and surgical education for the journal Surgery as a member of the editorial board. After a year of work as guest editor, the special section was published this month. The collection of articles by internationally recognized experts in the field addresses issues including the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic that have necessitated changes to the platform of surgical simulation education and spurred evaluations of how to best use distance simulation for surgical learners going forward. Read Dr. Dickinson’s introduction to the series here.   

Inaugural National Nutrition Fellow
Andrew Brown, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biostatistics, has been named an inaugural Excellence in Nutrition Fellow of the American Society for Nutrition (FASN). The new distinction recognizes scientists, clinicians and other professionals who have demonstrated significant impact in their career paths as well as service to the ASN. Dr. Brown and the other newly named fellows of the society will be recognized at the Nutrition 2025 conference in Orlando on May 31. In Arkansas, Dr. Brown has lent his expertise to studies on nutrition, childhood and adult obesity, research rigor and other topics at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s.

Surgical Research Symposium
Kudos to Department of Surgery and the faculty, organizers, residents and students who made the fourth annual Surgical Research Symposium a great success. More than 100 attended the March 18 event hosted by the Department of Surgery, including several from the departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. The event featured 45 poster presentations. Breast Surgical Fellow Dr. Nicholette Black received the award for Best Clinical Study. Second-year medical student Beau Belcher received top honors for Best Case Study. M.D./Ph.D. student Randall Rainwater received the award for best Basic Science poster. Special thanks to Surgery faculty members Dr. Marie Burdine, Dr. Hanna Jensen and Dr. Matt Steliga and Research Writer Sandy Moore, M.A., for their work organizing the event.

Outstanding Achievement in Brain & Behavior
A shout-out to second-year medical student Eva Allen, who was honored by the departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry last week for academic excellence in the foundational Brain and Behavior module while a freshman last year. Eva was presented an award for earning the top score in the course by Dr. Laura Stanley, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, who co-directs the module with Dr. Shona Ray-Griffith, Associate Professor of Psychiatry. Eva also received a monetary prize provided by the Department of Psychiatry, and she will be recognized on a plaque in the Education II building ground floor corridor. 

Filed Under: Accolades

Accolades – March 19, 2025

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.

Congratulations to our Newly Invested Faculty
Congratulations to Dr. Fenghuang “Frank” Zhan and Dr. Susan D. Emmett on their investitures in endowed chairs at UAMS this past week. These are well-earned honors for both outstanding faculty members. It was a pleasure to celebrate Dr. Zhan and Dr. Emmett as well as the generous philanthropists who made the endowments possible.

Dr. Zhan, Professor of Internal Medicine and Research Director for the Myeloma Center in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, was invested as the inaugural holder of the Dr. Bart Barlogie Chair for Myeloma Research last Thursday. Dr. Zhan’s groundbreaking research focuses on identifying treatment approaches to overcome drug resistance in multiple myeloma. He served at UAMS in 2000-2008 and rejoined the faculty to lead basic and translational research in the Myeloma Center in 2020. Read more about the investiture and Dr. Zhan in this UAMS news story.

Dr. Emmett, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Epidemiology and Founding Director of the Center for Hearing Health Access at UAMS, became the inaugural recipient of the Thomas McGill Chair in Otolaryngology yesterday afternoon. Dr. Emmett is internationally recognized for her expertise and work to address hearing health access on many fronts including novel technologic device development for improved screening and large-scale randomized trials focusing on expanding access to specialty hearing care. Watch for a news story soon on the UAMS website.

Medical Student Receives Prestigious ASCI Fellowship
We were thrilled to learn this week that third-year medical student Hannah Wu has received a prestigious and highly competitive American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) Physician-Scientist Support Foundation Fellowship. Hannah is on her way to becoming a great physician and scientist, and I was excited to nominate her for this fellowship. She also received enthusiastic support from her mentors, Dr. Alan Tackett and Dr. Sara Shalin. The ASCI award will fully fund Hannah’s fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston over the 2025-2026 academic year. Hannah’s research plans may sound familiar to you. As we noted in an accolade a couple of weeks ago, she is also receiving support from the Melanoma Research Foundation for her upcoming research aimed at discovering immunotherapies for melanoma. Hannah is from Cabot and received her undergraduate degree at Lyon College in Batesville.

National Award for Neuroscience Advanced Practice Nursing
A shout-out to Dr. Ebonye Green, Instructor in the College of Medicine and the Lead Inpatient Advanced Practice Provider for the Department of Neurosurgery and Neurosciences Service Line, on receiving the Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing Award from the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses (AANN) this week. The award, presented at the AANN national meeting in New Orleans, recognizes excellence in nursing care and advancement of neuroscience nursing as a specialty through the development and support of nurses. Dr. Green joined UAMS in 2009 and has provided outstanding care, mentoring and other service in her current role since 2013.

Resident Wins National Research Award
Dr. Kingsley Nnawuba
, a third-year resident in the UAMS Northwest/Mercy Internal Medicine Residency Program, has been selected to receive a research award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology for his abstract on bone marrow transplantation in Arkansas. Dr. Nnawuba will be recognized in a ceremony and present his findings at the ASCO annual meeting in Chicago in May. He is the first resident from Arkansas to receive the award. In July, Dr. Nnawuba will head for Emory University to begin his hematology-oncology fellowship. Well done!

PM&R in Spotlight at National Conference
The Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was well represented at the recent American Academy of Physiatry annual conference in Phoenix. Presenting on a wide range of collaborative research, UAMS participants included Dr. Rani Gardner, PM&R Division Director and Residency Program Director; Dr. Laura Hobart-Porter, Section Chief for Pediatric PM&R; Chief Resident Dr. Ibrahim Samarra’e; third-year residents Dr. Neil Simmons and Dr. Nam Vo; and second-year medical students Claire Althoff and John Peyton. Faculty members Dr. Sarah Hunton, Dr. Thomas Kiser and Dr. Kevin Means also contributed to the research projects.

Neurosurgery Honors an Icon
The Department of Neurosurgery honored a legend in the field of neurosurgery, Emeritus Professor Dr. M. Gazi Yasargil, along with his wife and former UAMS nurse, Dianne, at a recent symposium as Dr. Yasargil marked his 100th birthday. Dr. Yasargil has been called the “Father of Modern Microneurosurgery” and was named “Man of the Century 1950-1999 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He joined the UAMS faculty in 1994 and was named a Professor Emeritus in 2013. Dr. Yasargil addressed attendees via video from his home in Switzerland. The Department of Neurosurgery hosts an annual M. Gazi and Dianne C.H. Yasargil Distinguished Lectureship, but this year’s Centennial Symposium expanded on the format with four distinguished speakers, a panel discussion and other activities. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Finally this week, congratulations to UAMS Chancellor Dr. Cam Patterson on receiving the Arnall Patz Lifetime Achievement Award from the Medical Alumni Association at Emory University in Atlanta. The award honors distinguished alumni from the Emory University School of Medicine who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and accomplishment in medicine at the national or international level. Dr. Patterson received his medical degree at Emory in 1989 and completed his residency there in 1993. A renowned cardiologist and health care administrator, he has held many leadership posts at top academic medical centers and has served as UAMS Chancellor since 2018. Read more here.  

Filed Under: Accolades

Accolades – March 12, 2025

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 to Train at Cambridge
Congratulations to second-year medical student Nicole Occidental on receiving a prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship to complete the Ph.D. portion of her M.D./Ph.D. dual-degree program at the University of Cambridge in England. Nicole, who grew up in Little Rock, is one of only 35 Americans selected to be a part of the 2025 entering class of Gates Cambridge Scholars from around the world, and the first from UAMS.

Nicole’s future as a physician-scientist and aspiring pediatric neurologist is incredibly promising. As an intern in the UAMS Translational Training in Addiction T32 program last summer, she worked with Dr. Andrew James, Professor and Interim Director of the Psychiatric Research Institute’s Brain Imaging Research Center. Her research used fMRI to investigate the stability of individuals’ resting state connectivity and their brain representations of motor function. In October, she will begin working toward her doctorate in the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at Cambridge.

These exceptional accomplishments were just the latest for Nicole. While an undergraduate student at Northeastern University in Boston, she earned a full U.S. Fulbright Students Program scholarship to work toward her Master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Read more about Nicole in this story from Northeastern.

Enhancing Emergency Behavioral Health Care
Dr. Michael Wilson
and colleagues in the departments of Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry were integral in the creation of the first-ever national Focused Practice Designation in Emergency Behavioral Health. The new certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABEM) is open to both psychiatrists and emergency medicine physicians and will help to substantially improve the standard of care for behavioral health patients. Dr. Wilson, an Associate Professor in both the Division of Research and Evidence-Based Medicine in the Department of Emergency Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry, worked extensively to build support for the initiative. The ABEM committee that considered the new designation also noted the impact of multiple letters of support from faculty in the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute. Dr. Wilson has been selected to serve on the ABEM Emergency Behavioral Health Task Force to help implement the new designation by the end of 2025. He also has been named President-Elect of the American Association of Emergency Psychiatry.

Rising Star in Endocrinology
Spyridoula Maraka, M.D.
, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, has been selected to receive the Rising Star in Endocrinology Award from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE). The award will be presented at the AACE annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, in May. It recognizes physicians who are within 10 years of completing their endocrine fellowship and have demonstrated actionable outcomes in leadership, teamwork and/or innovation in keeping with the organization’s mission to elevate clinical endocrinology for global health. An internationally recognized expert in thyroid disease, Dr. Maraka has served in several leadership and other roles in the Endocrine Society, the American Thyroid Association and other leading organizations in the field.

Guiding Orthopaedic Clinical Decision Making
Dr. Jeff Stambough, Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, was recently reappointed to a second two-year term on the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) Steering Committee. The AJRR is the world’s largest registry of hip and knee replacement by annual procedural count, with data on more than 4 million procedures from throughout the United States. The data is collected, analyzed and reported on to guide clinical decision making for improved quality of care, patient safety and treatment outcomes. The AJRR publishes an annual report on its data, accompanied by a supplement report that provides further analysis and updates. Dr. Stambough served as Deputy Editor for the AJRR 2024 Annual Report Supplement, released this month during the AAOS annual meeting in San Diego.

Spine Team Celebrates Milestone
A shout-out to the neurosurgeons, orthopaedic surgeons and entire UAMS spine team on the completion of more than 500 robotic spine surgeries. UAMS began offering the minimally invasive procedures to correct degenerative conditions and deformities, remove tumors and treat injuries, while reducing recovery time, in 2020. Read more about the spine team’s recent celebration of the milestone in the UAMS Newsroom.

NWA Students Welcome “Sweethearts” to Campus
Kudos to the medical students at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus who helped host the campus’ first ever “Sweethearts” educational program in partnership with the Northwest Arkansas American Heart Association (AHA) on March 3. The campus welcomed 11 10th-grade girls for an evening focused on cardiovascular health. With the help of Chloe Cline (M3), Sydney Steed (M2), Zoe VonDoloski (M1) and Lily DeSpain (M1), the high school students performed ultrasound scans of the heart on a standardized patient, listened to normal and abnormal heart sounds using auscultation manikens, and used the SECTRA table to visualize CT imaging of the heart and its relationship to other organs. (Here are some photos from the event!)

The Little Rock campus has hosted AHA “sweethearts” for several years, most recently in January, with the help of many faculty, postdocs and student volunteers from our Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy.

Filed Under: Accolades

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