Tamara Robinson

Recent Faculty Appointments — November 2021

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

Department of Biomedical Informatics

Cari Anne Bogulski, Ph.D.

Cari Anne Bogulski, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Biomedical Informatics as an Assistant Professor. Recruited in partnership with the UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation, Dr. Bogulski is based at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus and collaborates extensively with IDHI Director of Research Hari Eswaran, Ph.D. She also continues to collaborate with the Office of Community Health and Research at UAMS Northwest, where she works on program evaluation and research projects addressing issues of health equity in maternal and child health, food insecurity, diabetes self-management and prevention, and impacts of COVID-19.

Dr. Bogulski received her doctorate in cognitive psychology and language science from Pennsylvania State University. She has over 17 years of experience in research, experimental design, data processing and statistical analysis.

Department of Internal Medicine

John D. Shaughnessy Jr., Ph.D.

John D. Shaughnessy Jr., Ph.D., has rejoined the faculty as a Professor of Internal Medicine and a principal staff scientist in the Myeloma Center. He previously served at UAMS from 1996 to 2010 as Director of the Lambert Laboratory of Myeloma Genetics and leader of the center’s Division of Basic Sciences.

Dr. Shaughnessy’s research in the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute is focused on developing new targeted therapies for multiple myeloma, and on the genetic profiles of myeloma patients including extremely long survivors.

Dr. Shaughnessy received his doctorate in molecular biology from the University of Maryland. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship in the Mammalian Genetics Laboratory of the National Cancer Institute’s Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center.

Department of Pathology

Eric U. Yee, M.D.

Eric U. Yee, M.D., has joined the Department of Pathology as an Associate Professor in the Surgical Division. Dr. Yee received his medical degree at the University of Colorado Denver & Health Sciences Center. He completed his residency and served as Chief Resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School in Boston. Dr. Yee continued his training with a fellowship in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary pathology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Prior to coming to UAMS, Dr. Yee served as the Director of Surgical Pathology and Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, New York.

Department of Radiation Oncology

Pouya Sabouri Ph.D.

Pouya Sabouri Ph.D., has joined the Department of Radiation Oncology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Sabouri holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in mathematics, physics and nuclear engineering from the University of British Columbia and McMaster University in Canada. He received his doctorate in nuclear reactor physics at the Laboratory of Subatomic Physics and Cosmology (LPSC/INPG/CNRS) in Grenoble, France. Dr. Sabouri completed his residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where he subsequently served as faculty, proton physicist and planner for LINAC-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Dr. Sabouri’s research interests include motion management, tumor tracking, lung motion models, adaptive radiotherapy and applications of dual energy CT for particle therapy. He is passionate about educational outreach as well as providing high-quality care for cancer patients.

UAMS College of Medicine Team Member Goes to Great Lengths to Serve Country

Brian Barnett in front of Camp Lemonnier signage in Djibouti, Africa

The call to serve our country is strong across UAMS, with many veterans, active duty, Guard and Reserve members of the Armed Forces on our team. For Brian Barnett, MHSA, Associate Chair in the departments of Family and Preventive Medicine and Radiation Oncology, it meant never giving up hope.

As a member of the 404^th Civil Affairs Unit of the U.S. Army Reserve, Brian was excited and grateful to receive his first overseas deployment, to Djibouti City in the Horn of Africa, early last fall.

Unfortunately, not long into his stateside training for the mobilization, he suffered a tibia/fibula fracture in his right leg during a Midnight parachute jump. The injury required surgery and physical therapy, but Brian was determined. He made it to Fort Bliss, Texas, for mobilization on Dec. 5, 2020, and caught up with his unit in in Dijibouti in early January. He completed the deployment and returned to UAMS in September.

But Brian’s determination to serve our country didn’t start there. “My father and grandfather served, and it was the only thing I considered through high school,” Brian explained. “I was planning on attending the Air Force Academy, but was disqualified because I only have one kidney. My father was a combat engineer in Vietnam and dealt with Agent Orange. Birth defects such as I had were a common side effect of the exposure.”

Instead, the Texas native made his way to the University of Central Arkansas to play football and study physical therapy. He later obtained a Master’s in Health Services Administration and moved into administrative leadership roles such as those he has held at UAMS for over 15 years.

“That desire to serve in the military never went away, though, and I attempted to join again when the military recruiters came to UCA before graduation,” Brian said. “Unfortunately, I still only had one kidney and was told I didn’t qualify. “ I attempted to join again in 2001 after the Trade Center attacks and even wrote a letter to my Congressman and the Secretary of the Army. I still only had one kidney, though, and the recruiter dismissed me again.”

“It took another 10 years, but I finally had to try again. Miraculously, the recruiter I randomly ended up with was married to a UAMS nephrologist. This recruiter took me seriously, and his wife assisted in obtaining extra tests. So on my fourth attempt over 20 years, I was finally approved for a medical waiver and was accepted into the Army Medical Department. I later transferred to Civil Affairs.”

The College of Medicine salutes Brian and all dedicated veterans and service members. Thank you for answering the call to serve.

Accolades – November 17, 2021

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 Vaccine Leadership
Congratulations to Dr. Robert Hopkins Jr., Professor and Director of the Division of General Internal Medicine, who has been asked to continue his service on the National Vaccine Advisory Committee to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through September 2025. He also will remain in his role as Chair of the committee, which he has led since early 2019. Dr. Hopkins has provided essential expertise for national decisions on adult and pediatric vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, with a steadfast commitment to assuring their safety and efficacy. He has also been a highly respected source of information for Arkansans and Team UAMS throughout the pandemic. Thank you, Dr. Hopkins. We are so fortunate to have you as a colleague.

USDA Panel Appointment
Dr. Mario Ferruzzi, Director of the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center and Chief of the Section of Developmental Nutrition in the Department of Pediatrics, has been named to a USDA advisory board. Following his nomination by the American Society for Nutrition, Dr. Ferruzzi was appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to lend his expertise as a representative of academic or research societies on the USDA National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education and Economics (NAREEE) Advisory Board. The board provides advice to the Secretary of Agriculture and land-grant colleges and universities on top priorities and policies for food and agricultural research, education, extension and economics.

National Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr. Shashank Kraleti, Associate Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, on being selected for the 2022-2023 LEADS Fellowship by the Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM). The prestigious one-year fellowship provides leadership training for family medicine leaders who are interested in pathways to serve in senior leadership positions at academic and other health systems. Dr. Kraleti has been recognized nationally as well as at UAMS for his outstanding work in the Family Medicine Residency Program since 2012, including his service as Program Director since 2016. Dr. Kraleti also holds the Jack W. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Family and Preventive Medicine and serves as Medical Director for the Institute for Digital Health & Innovation.

Pediatric Trauma Excellence
The Division of Pediatric General Surgery was well represented at the recent Pediatric Trauma Society (PTS) meeting in Baltimore. Fifth-year resident Dr. Krista Stephenson had two podium presentations showcasing her work with Drs. Deidre Wyrick, Sid Dassinger and Todd Maxson on pediatric trauma triage methods and with Dr. Marcene McVay-Gillam on a clinical pathway for mild traumatic brain injury in children. Additionally, Dr. Wyrick was elected to the PTS Nominations Committee and Jennifer York, APRN, was appointed to the Advanced Practiced Providers Steering committee.

Scoliosis Scholar
Dr. David Bumpass, Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, has been named a member of the esteemed Scoliosis Research Society, the world’s leading organization of spine surgeons, researchers and allied health professionals involved in research and treatment of spinal deformities. Read more about the honor and Dr. Bumpass, who serves as Co-Director of Spine Care Services for UAMS Health, here. Congratulations!

Family Medicine Annual Update
Kudos to the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Community Health and Education Division, and team members from across our college and UAMS who made the 25th Annual Family Medicine Update a great success. Special thanks to Andrea Hooten, Marybeth Curtis, Colleen Lassiter and Alysia Dubriske for their leadership on the conference. The annual Update with Free Tobacco and Disease Symposium was held virtually Oct. 26-29 with national experts as well as UAMS clinicians and faculty presenters. The broad array of topics included food as medicine, cancer screening, tobacco and vaping, nicotine in pregnancy and breastfeeding, opioids and drug use, and much more. Read more here.

Thyroid Expertise
Congratulations to Dr. Spyridoula Maraka, Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, on her appointment as Chair-Elect of the American Thyroid Association Guidelines and Statements Committee. Internationally recognized for her expertise, Dr. Maraka delivered an oral presentation last week for the Australian Deprescribing Network, discussing preliminary results of a grant-funded clinical trial on discontinuation of levothyroxine therapy for patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. At UAMS, Dr. Maraka also directs the Endocrinology Fellowship.

Transfusion Medicine Education
A shout-out to Dr. Tina Ipe, Associate Professor of Pathology and Director of the Division of Transfusion Medicine, who has begun her term as Chair of the Annual Meeting Education Committee for the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB). The committee is planning the continuing medical education components of AABB’s next annual meeting, scheduled for next October in Orlando, Florida. AABB is an international organization of individuals and institutions involved in the fields of transfusion medicine and biotherapies.

Epilepsy Awareness
November is Epilepsy Awareness Month, and faculty and staff in the Epilepsy Clinic from Neurosurgery, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Neurology, Pediatric Neurology and Psychiatry did a fantastic job at the Third Annual Epilepsy Symposium on Nov. 6. Presenters included Drs. Gregory Albert, Kapil Arya, Adrianne Parkey, Salman Zahoor, Harshad Ladha and Jennifer Gess, who were also joined by Drs. Viktoras Palys, Fred Perkins and Debopam Samanta for a FAQ panel moderated by Taneicie Sabb, APRN. Read more about the symposium here.

International Webinar
Dr. Surjith Vattoth, Associate Professor of Radiology in the Division of Neuroradiology, was the November speaker for the webinar conducted by the European Society of Head and Neck Radiology (ESHNR) for radiologists and radiology residents from around the world. His Nov. 9 talk focused on paranasal sinus anatomy and variants and their importance in clinical imaging. Dr. Vattoth is nationally and internationally recognized for his work in education relating to diagnostic neuroradiology/head and neck imaging.

Head of the Class
I was delighted to learn that Ashley Herdman, a second-year Ph.D. student in the Neurosciences Track of the Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences, was featured in the Endocrine Society’s Endocrine News. The newsletter featured a “Head of the Class” Q&A with Ashley about her experiences as an awardee in the Endocrine Society’s Research Experiences for Graduate and Medical Students summer program. Ashley did a great job discussing her work with her mentor, Dr. Angela Odle, Assistant Professor in Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, which includes pioneering studies on regulation of pituitary cell networking and communication.

Accolades – November 3, 2021

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!

MEFFA Grants Support Innovative Teaching
Several educational initiatives are on tap this year thanks to grants from the Arkansas Medical Society (AMS) and the Medical Education Foundation for Arkansas (MEFFA). This year’s MEFFA supported projects include virtual reality-facilitated anatomy education and stress reduction, teaching microscopes for OB/GYN rotations, a summer preceptorship in radiation oncology, online education in pediatric endocrinology, and the annual Teach the Teacher conference.

Congratulations to the faculty, departments and units behind these innovative proposals: Dr. Linda Worley (COM, UAMS Northwest Campus); Dr. Alexis White (Obstetrics and Gynecology); Dr. Gary Lewis (Radiation Oncology); Dr. Jon Oden (Pediatric Endocrinology); and Dr. Karina Clemmons (Medical Humanities and Bioethics).

MEFFA is also sponsoring two AMS Distinguished Lectures. Guest speakers will discuss health equity and lifestyle medicine, proposed by Dr. Gina Drobena (Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group); and patient-centered preclinical medical school curriculum, proposed by Dr. David Davies (Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences).

International Conference Leader
Dr. Mayumi Nakagawa, Professor of Pathology, has been invited to serve on the planning committee for the 2023 International Papillomavirus Conference, the annual meeting of the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS). Dr. Nakagawa is internationally recognized for her expertise in human papillomavirus (HPV) immunology and, as many of you know, recently was awarded $3.6 million from the National Cancer Institute to complete phase 2 clinical trials of the breakthrough vaccine she developed to treat cancers caused by HPV. The IPVS is recognized as the global authority on papillomaviruses. We are incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Nakagawa at UAMS, where she also serves as the Drs. Mae and Anderson Nettleship Endowed Chair in Oncologic Pathology and co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences Program in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

Assessing Virtual Interviews
Dr. Jill Fussell, Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics and Rehabilitative Medicine, is a coauthor of a timely article on virtual interviews for residency and fellowship recruitment published in Pediatrics. In “National Pediatric Experience with Virtual Interviews: Lessons Learned and Future Recommendations,” Dr. Fussell and colleagues from around the country explore many of the innovations adopted by pediatric training programs during the pandemic. The authors highlight the strengths and weaknesses of three potential models for future interview seasons. Congratulations!

“Five A’s” for Communication during COVID
“Life in the time of COVID-19 is like being dropped suddenly into an unfamiliar country without the benefit of a smiling tour guide.” Thus begins an insightful letter by Dr. Stephen Sorsby, Assistant Professor in Family and Preventive Medicine, and colleagues published in Family Medicine. The letter focuses on the unique difficulties of workplace communication due to constraints of the pandemic. Dr. Sorsby and co-authors Dr. Elizabeth Schmit and Dr. William Ventres recommend “Five A’s” for improving communication among colleagues today and even post-pandemic: Be Aware; Acknowledge Losses; Develop Alternatives; Adapt; and Anticipate the Future. Click here for this excellent short read.

Center of Excellence
A shout-out to Dr. Aravindhan Veerapandiyan, Assistant Professor in Pediatric Neurology, and his team in the Comprehensive Neuromuscular Program at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, on earning Charcot Marie Tooth Association Center of Excellence Distinction. Only a small number of centers in the country and across the world have received this distinction, which speaks volumes about the expertise and dedication of this team to children with Charcot Marie Tooth disease, a hereditary condition that impairs functioning of motor and sensory peripheral nerves.

International Textbook
Congratulations to Dr. Surjith Vattoth, a lead author and editor for the fourth edition of Elsevier’s “Diagnostic Imaging: Head and Neck.” Dr. Vattoth, an Associate Professor of Radiology in the Division of Neuroradiology, authored or co-authored 52 chapters and edited approximately 100 chapters by other authors. The premier diagnostic imaging book series is used by radiologists and trainees around the globe. Chapters also will be available in the online educational platform Elsevier STATdx.

Disparities in Pediatric Anesthesia
An excellent review article by Dr. Arundathi Reddy, Professor of Anesthesiology and Chief of Pediatric Anesthesia, and Dr. Destiny Chau, Professor, is featured in the Fall 2021 newsletter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine. “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pediatric Anesthesia: Towards Understanding of the Problem and Charting the Path Forward” examines currently published literature on disparities in the field and perioperative outcomes.

Geriatric Student Scholar
Congratulations to fourth-year medical student Erica Dewey on being selected for the 2021-2022 Geriatric Student Scholars Program by the UAMS Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC) in the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging. The Student Scholars program is designed to increase health professions students’ interest and exposure to older adults as well as their understanding of older adults and the specialized care they need. The program also promotes interprofessional collaboration among health professions students. Learn more about the program, Erica and this year’s Student Scholars from other UAMS colleges here.

Poster Presenter
Fifth-year Neurosurgery resident Dr. Matthew Helton did a great job presenting a poster at the 2021 Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting last month. Dr. Helton, who was also the recipient of a Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation travel grant, presented an abstract titled “The Lateral in the Prone Position – Feasibility and Versatility.” Coauthors included Dr. Helton’s mentor, Associate Professor Dr. Noojan Kazemi, PGY-7 and Chief Resident Dr. Marcus Stephens, and 2021 Neurosurgery Residency graduate Dr. Angela Palmer.

Putting Patients First
This week I would like to share two diverse examples of exemplary patient care. The first was detailed in a letter I received from a patient of Dr. Hakan Paydak, Professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology. “I trust him with my life!” the patient wrote. “Of all the doctors that I see, Dr. Paydak stands at the top of the list in terms of having a caring, sincere and empathetic bedside manner. Our conversations are open and proactive, and he is responsive to my calls, emails and texts.”

The other example is from the Family Medical Center, where Dr. Pilar Murphy, an Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy, is a clinical pharmacist. Dr. Stephen Sorsby wrote to let me know about Dr. Murphy’s efforts to help a patient with severe autism. The patient was unable to tolerate any kind of injection, but needed a flu vaccination. “Dr. Murphy called multiple pharmacies, both here at UAMS and in the community, before finding one that caries FluMist, so we can adequately protect this vulnerable patient.”

Recent Faculty Appointments — October 2021

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

Department of Anesthesiology

Kyle Stoner, M.D.

Kyle Stoner, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Stoner received his medical degree and completed his residency at UAMS. He served as an Associate Anesthesiologist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2019-2020 and then as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesia at Iowa for a year prior to his return to UAMS.

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Eric Enemark, Ph.D.

Eric Enemark, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as an Associate Professor. Dr. Enemark is a researcher in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, where his expertise centers on the use of X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM to better understand the detailed mechanisms of DNA replication in the context of disease states such as cancer.

Dr. Enemark received his doctorate at Stanford University. He completed his postdoctoral work at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, where he went on to work as a research investigator in 2002-2008. Dr. Enemark served as an Assistant Member and later as an Associate Member of the Department of Structural Biology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis from 2009 until his recruitment to UAMS early this year.

Read more about Dr. Enemark’s research.

Department of Internal Medicine

Ashim Bagchi, Ph.D.

Ashim Bagchi, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Instructor and researcher in the Division of Cardiology.Dr. Bagchi received his doctorate in science/immunology from the University of Jadavpur in India in 2006. He has competed multiple research fellowships in immunology and cardiovascular sciences. Dr. Bagchi most recently served as a research associate at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre and the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada.

Munawwar Hussain, M.D.

Munawwar Hussain, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor and hospitalist in the Hematology/Oncology Division. Dr. Hussain received his medical degree from Punjab Medical College in Pakistan in 2009. He completed an internal medicine residency at Conemaugh Health System in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 2016. Dr. Hussain continued his career there as a hospitalist and attending physician.

Jaskirat Sethi, M.D.

Jaskirat Sethi, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor and hospitalist in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. Dr. Sethi received his medical degree from the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 2017. He recently completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Mississippi.

Shirisha Ale, M.D.

Shirisha Ale, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine.Dr. Ale received her medical degree from Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences in Narketpally, Telangana, India, in 2010. She was a research fellow in the Department of Nephrology at Cleveland Clinic – Akron General in Akron, Ohio, in 2016. Dr. Ale recently completed a residency in internal medicine and served as Assistant Chief Resident at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, RRWJ Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Sindhu Malapati, M.D.

Sindhu Malapati, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Medical Oncology. Her clinical focus is the care of women with breast cancer. Before joining UAMS, she completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at Ascension St. John Hospital in Detroit, where she focused on breast oncology. She completed her residency in internal medicine at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital in Chicago. A native of Goa, India, Dr. Malapati received her medical degree from Goa Medical College in Bambolim, India.

Krishna Kakkera, M.D.

Krishna Kakkera, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor specializing in critical care in the Pulmonary Division. Dr. Kakkera received his medical degree from Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India, in 2010. He completed an internship in 2013 and residency in 2015 in internal medicine at UAMS and the Central Arkansas Veterans Health System. In 2018, He completed a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine and served as Chief Fellow at UAMS. Dr. Kakkera most recently worked as a pulmonary critical care physician at White River Medical Center in Batesville.

Department of Neurology

Tarek Bakdash, M.D.

Tarek Bakdash, M.D., has joined the Department of Neurology as an Assistant Professor and neurohospitalist. Dr. Bakdash received his medical degree from the University of Aleppo Faculty of Medicine in Syria. He completed residency and fellowship training at the University of Minnesota and affiliated hospitals. Dr. Bakdash is a board-certified neurologist with subspecialty certification in clinical neurophysiology and neuromuscular disease. He provides comprehensive care for patients in the Neurology Inpatient Service at UAMS Medical Center.

Department of Pediatrics

Paul Darden, M.D.

Paul Darden, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as a Professor in the Division of Community Pediatrics and Director of Population Health for Arkansas Children’s. Dr. Darden has served on national committees for the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program under the IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trial Network (ISPCTN) since 2016 and will continue working with this program at Arkansas Children’s and UAMS.

Dr. Darden most recently served as Section Chief of General and Community Pediatrics at Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, where he was also the Director of the Academic Generalist Training Program and the CMRI James Paul Linn Endowed Chair. An accomplished researcher in primary care, Dr. Darden founded the Oklahoma Child Health Research Network and served as the Director of the Oklahoma Pediatric Clinical Trials Network. He has worked extensively for much of his career with the American Academy of Pediatrics practice-based research network and the Pediatric Research in Office Settings, where he has conducted many studies regarding vaccines in practice settings, continuity of care, and screenings for development and obesity issues in primary care.

Dr. Darden earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed his internship and residency at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. He continued his training with fellowships in pediatric epidemiology at Montreal Children’s Hospital and in faculty development in general internal medicine and general pediatrics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Samrat Roy Choudhury, Ph.D.

Samrat Roy Choudhury, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. Dr. Roy Choudhury is a researcher in the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute and in the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute with special expertise in epigenetics in cancer. His research focuses on the functional understanding of epigenomics that drive an aggressive disease state in subpopulations of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Dr. Roy Choudhury received his doctorate in biotechnology from the Indian Statistical Institute at the University of Calcutta in India. He completed his postdoctoral work with a W.M. Keck Foundation grant in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University in Indiana. Dr. Roy Choudhury served as a Research Associate in the Myeloma Center at UAMS in 2016 through 2020.

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Andrew Morris, Ph.D.

Andrew Morris, Ph.D., has joined the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology as a Professor. Dr. Morris comes to UAMS from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, where he was the Ashwini Anand Endowed Professor of Cardiovascular Research and Director of the Small Molecule Mass Spectrometry Core Laboratory, which supported the analytical core components of several NIH-funded research programs. Dr. Morris was a research investigator at the Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a position he will transfer to the Central Arkansas Veterans Affair Medical Center.

Over the past 25 years, Dr. Morris’ independent research program has broadly addressed the roles of lipid metabolism and lipid signaling in human diseases. His current research investigates bioactive lysophospholipids as inflammatory mediators that link diet-dependent and genetic risk factors for common cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis. He has extensive expertise in biomedical mass spectrometry that includes both large-scale analysis of lipids and metabolites (lipidomics and metabolomics) and targeted measurements of biomarkers of diet, nutrition and environmental chemicals. He is currently engaged in collaborative studies using these approaches to measure circulating biomarkers for human diseases and to investigate the human health effects of exposure to certain classes of organic environmental chemicals. Dr. Morris’ laboratory has been an effective training environment, particularly for early-career investigators, and he has an extensive record of service as reviewer on NIH study sections.

Dr. Morris received his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Birmingham, England. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, where went on to serve as a Research Assistant Professor in 1991-1993. Dr. Morris served on the faculty of the Department of Pharmacological Sciences at Stony Brook University in New York in 1993-2001 and in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at UNC from 2001 until his recruitment to the University of Kentucky as a Professor of Internal Medicine in 2005.

Department of Radiation Oncology

Adam Wolfe, M.D., Ph.D.

Adam Wolfe, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the Department of Radiation Oncology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Wolfe received his medical degree and doctorate in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Texas McGovern Medical School and MD Anderson Cancer Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. He completed his residency in radiation oncology at the Ohio State University. Dr. Wolfe treats patients with gastrointestinal cancers at the UAMS Radiation Oncology Center using state-of-the-art radiation therapy techniques. In the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, his research focuses on the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer. Learn more about Dr. Wolfe on the Radiation Oncology website.

Department of Surgery

Lindsey Wolf, M.D., MPH

Lindsey Wolf, M.D., MPH, has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Surgery. Dr. Wolf received her medical degree at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. She completed her general surgery residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston while simultaneously earning a Master of Public Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She continued her training with a fellowship in pediatric surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Department of Urology

Julie Riley, M.D.

Julie Riley, M.D., has joined the Department of Urology as an Associate Professor and Residency Program Director. Dr. Riley comes to UAMS from the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Medicine, where she was an Associate Professor, Director of Endourology and Stone Disease, and UNM Lead Renal Transplant Listing Surgeon. She also served as Chair of the Surgical Services Oversight Committee and as Executive Surgeon of Surgical Services. Her clinical interests are surgical and medical management of nephrolithiasis, renal and ureter reconstruction, BPH, renal cancer and renal obstruction.

Dr. Riley received her Doctor of Medicine with Distinction in Community Services from Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in urology at the University of Missouri-Columbia and continued her training with a fellowship in endourology, robotics and laparoscopy at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Riley is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and is active in numerous other national professional organizations including the American Urologic Association and the Society of Endourology. She serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Endourology, Urology and other peer-reviewed publications.

Beatrice Boateng, Ph.D., Named Associate Dean for Analysis, Planning and Strategic Program Development in UAMS College of Medicine

Beatrice Boateng, Ph.D., has been appointed to the newly established post of associate dean for analysis, planning and strategic program development in the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

“Dr. Boateng has provided expert assessment and evaluation for programs at the department, institute and college level at UAMS for more than a decade,” said Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean Susan Smyth, M.D., Ph.D. “We have seen the impact of what she brings to the table at every level.”

A professor of pediatrics, Boateng served most recently as assistant dean for faculty assessment and evaluation in the college since January 2019. She also served as director of evaluation for the UAMS Translational Research Institute (TRI) from 2014 until assuming her current position as an associate dean. In the Department of Pediatrics, she served as director of the Office of Education and co-director of faculty development from 2011 to 2019, when she became the department’s director of faculty assessment and evaluation.

“In her new role, Dr. Boateng will plan, implement, evaluate and communicate the overall priorities for our college,” Smyth said. “Crucially, she will help ensure the successful implementation of our college’s strategic goals as part of UAMS’ Vision 2029. Dr. Boateng will provide leadership for college-wide and cross-functional projects and help ensure the most efficient and effective allocation of our resources.”

As an assistant dean, Boateng developed databases and online systems to streamline and ensure meaningful faculty and leadership performance evaluations. She also developed dashboards to track and visualize faculty information such as demographics, diversity and attrition. At TRI, Boateng monitored, evaluated and reported the progress and outcomes on activities relating to UAMS’ Clinical and Translational Science Award. In the Department of Pediatrics, she introduced assessment tools and processes that have strengthened academic and faculty development programs.

Boateng earned her master’s degree in international affairs and doctorate in instructional technology from Ohio University. She joined UAMS in 2007 as an assistant professor in the UAMS Office of Educational Development. She moved to the Department of Pediatrics in 2009 and was promoted to associate professor in 2013 and to professor in 2020. She has received numerous honors including the UAMS Educational Technology Excellence Award in 2013, the UAMS Faculty Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2017, and three Educator of the Year awards in the Department of Pediatrics.

Accolades – October 27, 2021

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!

Nobel Noteworthy
Congratulations to Dr. Jinhu Xiong, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, and colleagues on the citation of their study in the scientific background that was included in the announcement of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The Nobel was awarded to Dr. David Julius and Dr. Ardem Patapoutian for their discoveries of thermal and mechanical transducers. As the Advanced Information for the award explains, the honorees’ work “has unlocked one of the secrets of nature by explaining the molecular basis for sensing heat, cold and mechanical force.”

Dr. Xiong is the lead author of a 2019 study published in Elife, “Stimulation of Piezo1 by mechanical signals promotes bone anabolism.” Coauthors included UAMS and Center for Musculoskeletal Disease Research colleagues Drs. Xuehua Li, Li Han, Intawat Nookaew, Erin Mannen and Maria Almeida, and Dr. Matthew J. Silva of Washington University.

Innovation Recognition
Dr. Sheena CarlLee and Dr. Sharon Reece, the “primary care champions” for our new, specially tailored three-year M.D. degree track at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, just received the Innovation in Medical Education Award from the AAMC Southern Group on Educational Affairs. The award recognizes their outstanding work to develop and implement the Introduction to Primary Care Course, which provides the incoming primary care scholars with key concepts of the specialty and prepares them for the challenging, accelerated track. Dr. Reece, Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, and Dr. CarlLee, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency at the Fayetteville Regional Campus, serve as Co-Course Directors for the two-week class. Congratulations on this well-earned award!

Bioethics Conference
Our Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics faculty members are consistently integral to the annual meeting of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, the preeminent professional society in the field. Assistant Professor Dr. Laura Guidry-Grimes served on the program committee for the virtual conference held earlier this month. Assistant Professor Dr. Jamie Watson gave two talks – one on the role of religion in consultation conflicts, and another on nursing ethics. He and Dr. Angela Scott, Assistant Professor in Developmental Pediatrics and Medical Humanities, led the Literature and Medicine Affinity Group. Dr. Skye Miner, who joined the department as an Assistant Professor in September, presented a paper about her work on moral distress. Dr. D. Micah Hester, Professor and Chair, gave a flash presentation on the upcoming second edition of his co-edited book, “Guidance for Healthcare Ethics Committees.”

Leadership Development
A shout-out to Dr. Travis Eastin, Associate Professor and Director of the Education Division in the Department of Emergency Medicine, on being selected for the 2022 Association of Academic Chairs in Emergency Medicine (AACEM) Chair Development Program. He becomes the department’s second participant for the highly competitive program, which is known for developing future leaders in academic emergency medicine. The acceptance comes on the heels of Dr. Gregory Snead’s selection last year – a real credit to the department, chaired by Dr. Rawle A. “Tony” Seupaul, and the caliber of our Emergency Medicine faculty.

Advancing Women in Orthopaedics
Kudos to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery for their commitment to improving gender diversity at home and in the specialty nationally – including the creation of the Carl L. Nelson Award for the Advancement of Women in Orthopaedics. UAMS’ presentation of the inaugural award to the University of California, San Francisco was highlighted in AAOS Now, a newsletter of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

As noted in the article, Dr. Nelson was progressive for his time in recruiting women to the residency program and faculty while serving as chair from 1974 until his death in 2005. Today, Professor and Chair Dr. Lowry Barnes is continuing the push for greater gender diversity in the department and the field, along with Vice Chair Dr. Theresa Wyrick. UAMS Provost Dr. Stephanie Gardner lauded the creation of the Dr. Carl Nelson Award. “This is a testament to our commitment to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, not only within UAMS, but in the broader community,” she said. I couldn’t agree more!

POCUS Focus
Congratulations to third-year Pediatrics resident Dr. Kayla Heidbrink on receiving the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Transport Medicine’s in-training grant for her project, “Point Of Care UltraSound (POCUS) for intravenous Catheter Placement during Pediatric Interfacility Transport.” After months of working on the project with the Arkansas Children’s Hospital transport team, Dr. Heidbrink presented her work during the 2021 virtual national conference earlier this month. Attendees gave Dr. Heidbrink’s project rave reviews, saying that it was well organized and pertinent to every transport team member.

Putting Patients First
I am very pleased to share some of the recent survey comments from parents of young Arkansans cared for by our team members at Arkansas Children’s. Kudos to all of these caring and compassionate physicians.

“We had a great experience! Dr. Harrison Cobb (Pediatric Cardiology, Arkansas Children’s Northwest) was very knowledgeable and was able to explain everything to my teen in a way she could understand…We are so glad that there is a great cardiologist close to home that we can trust.”

“The level of communication between the staff was impeccable. Dr. Christian Ponder (Ophthalmology resident, Emergency Department visit) was extremely communicative and made our experience very pleasant.”

“Dr. Sarah Sobik (Community Pediatrics– ACH Southwest LR Clinic) was very helpful and gentle with my child. Her willingness to see her patients for a sick visit even when she has a full schedule makes such a difference.”

“We always love Dr. Jon Oden (Pediatric Endocrinology) and his staff!”

“Dr. Jason Dare (Pediatric Rheumatology) was wonderful. Hands down one of the best doctors my daughter has had.”

Accolades – October 20, 2021

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!

Spotlight on Excellence
Earlier this week I shared our first “Spotlight on Excellence” video, an interview with Dr. John Dornhoffer, Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. I greatly enjoyed talking with Dr. Dornhoffer about his program’s latest national recognition – being named as one of the top 50 ENT programs for the third year in the row – and other recent developments. Dr. Dornhoffer did a fantastic job explaining what the recognition from U.S. News & World Report signifies for Arkansans. And that is one my goals for future videos in this series: to not only recognize the programs and team members who are helping us make our mark around the country, but also to discuss why their accomplishments matter for our state. If you haven’t had a chance to watch the video yet, click here to check it out. And watch for new videos about once a month!

Seven Days
“7 Days: The Opioids Crisis in Arkansas” is a new documentary whose title was inspired by a stunning quote from Dr. Johnathan Goree, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Director of the Chronic Pain Division, and stemming from research by Dr. Brad Martin, a Professor in the College of Pharmacy, and Dr. Corey Hayes, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Informatics. Dr. Goree noted that if an individual is given opioids for seven days, there is a 1 in 10 chance of them being on opioids a year later.

The documentary includes interviews with Dr. Goree and Dr. Michael Mancino, Professor of Psychiatry and Program Director of UAMS’ Center for Addiction Services and Treatment. The documentary premiered last week at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. Dr. Goree and Dr. Mancino will be among the panelists discussing the film and the crisis on “Arkansas Week” on Arkansas PBS this Friday evening. The film will air on Oct. 25 in addition to being shown in public schools next week. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom. Out thanks to these outstanding colleagues for their dedication to Arkansans who are struggling with addiction.

ENT Well Represented
The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery was well represented at the recent American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting, the premier education and networking event for the otolaryngology-head and neck surgery community. The Residency Program had eight posters and six scientific oral presentations accepted for presentation by faculty members including Drs. Adam Johnson, Larry Hartzell, Andre Wineland, Gresham Richter, Alissa Kanaan, John Dornhoffer, Ozlem Tulunay-Ugur, Deanne King, Mauricio Moreno, Emre Vural, and Jumin Sunde.

Poster presenters included residents Drs. Sriram Navuluri, Blake Hollowoa and J. Reed Gardner, along with pediatric fellow Dr. Mary Timbang and research fellow Dr. Kyle Davis. Medical students Carolina Coleman, Samantha Mohler and Emily Ray each co-authored a poster. Residents Drs. Tyler Merrill, J. Reed Gardner and Anvesh Kompelli delivered oral presentations Medical students Michael Powell and Tariq Salem also gave oral presentations.

COVID & Aspirin
Cardiology fellow Dr. Dinesh Voruganti is the first author, and Distinguished Professor Dr. J.L. Mehta is the senior author, of an editorial published in Heart, a leading international cardiology journal. “Does aspirin save lives in patients with COVID-19?” examines studies into the use of aspirin as an antiplatelet agent for preventing thrombotic complications, including findings by Dr. Francesco Santoro and colleagues at the University of Foggia in Italy that were published in the same issue. The editorial described the study as a step in the right direction for potentially improving outcomes of patients with COVID-19, who may benefit from the use of aspirin without increased risk of side effects such as bleeding. Well done.

Putting Patients First
It’s always a great day when thank you notes from patients and excellent patient survey comments make it to my desk. A recent letter from a patient’s spouse expressed gratitude for Dr. Frits van Rhee, Professor and Clinical Director of the Myeloma Center, and hospitalist Dr. Yetunde Ogunsesan, and team for their expert and compassionate care. “Having committed and dedicated people like Dr. Ogunsesan and Dr. van Rhee at your institution who believe that ‘service truly is above self’ is much appreciated,” the letter said.

Another patient recently commented on the Neurology team, praising Lucas Nalley, APRN, and Dr. Karthika Veerapaneni, Assistant Professor. “Every procedure, test and outcome was thoroughly explained,” the patient wrote. “Lucas is a very caring and calming individual; he is excellent. I have nothing but praise for the entire unit.”

Accolades – October 13, 2021

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 Leader in Medicine
Congratulations to Dr. Omar Atiq, Professor of Internal Medicine and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, on his nomination as President-Elect of the American College of Physicians (ACP). The nomination by the ACP Governance Committee and endorsement by the ACP Board of Regents will be confirmed in an election in early 2022. The first Arkansan nominated for the position, Dr. Atiq will assume leadership of the organization of internists – the world’s largest medical specialty society with 161,000 members around the globe – in 2023.

The role will be the culmination of many years of service to the ACP, and it is just the latest example of Dr. Atiq’s extraordinary leadership in internal medicine. He chaired the Board of Governors in 2019-2020, and he continues to serve on the Board of Regents. As Chair the ACP Health and Public Policy Committee in 2020, Dr. Atiq coauthored a key policy statement on racism and health.

Cancer Summit Speaker
Dr. Ronda Henry-Tillman, Professor and Chief of Breast Oncology in the Department of Surgery, served on an expert panel with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director, the President of the American Medical Association, physicians and scientists from leading cancer institutes and national initiatives, and congressional leaders. “Changing the Odds: The Hill’s Cancer Summit” focused on where the nation stands in the fight against cancer fifty years after the National Cancer Act established the NCI.

The virtual event last Wednesday focused extensively on inequities in cancer care and outcomes. Dr. Henry-Tillman discussed UAMS’ emphasis on early detection and overcoming barriers to access for screening and referral through initiatives such as the highly successful MammoVan, a mobile mammography unit. Thank you for your leadership and for representing UAMS so well in this important national conversation, Dr. Henry-Tillman.

NIH Director’s Award
A well-earned shout-out to Dr. Brian Koss, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, on becoming the first researcher in Arkansas to receive the prestigious Director’s Early Independence Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Koss will use the nearly $1.9 million award to build a team of investigators for highly specialized cancer research in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Dr. Koss is also only the second recipient from an NIH-designated Institutional Development Award (IDeA) state, which is a group of 23 states plus Puerto Rico that historically have received lower research funding. As a mentor to the only other recipient nearly a decade ago, I can attest that this award demonstrates how exceptionally promising the NIH views Dr. Koss. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

High-Impact Statistics
The UAMS Department of Biostatistics served as the statistical center and Dr. Jeannette Lee, Professor, served as the lead statistician for a groundbreaking multi-center clinical trial focusing on anal cancer prevention in persons with HIV that was halted early due to the high success rate of the therapy under study. The phase 3 study led by Dr. Joel Palefsky and researchers at the University of California San Francisco found that treating precursor anal cancer lesions can significantly lower the risk of progression to full-blown anal cancer in persons with HIV. The Anal Cancer/HSIL Outcomes Research (ANCHOR) study’s results suggest that anal cancer prevention might also be possible in other groups at risk for anal cancer. Read more about the ANCHOR study here.

All-Stars of ACGME Survey
The most recent national survey of medical residents and fellows by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is further evidence that our residency and fellowship programs truly are second to none. In fact, three of our GME programs scored at or above the national average across the board on all of the questions in the survey for the 2020-2021 academic year. Special congratulations to the leaders and faculty in Emergency Medicine (Dr. Sarah Greenberger, Program Director), Neurosurgery (Dr. Erika Petersen, Program Director), and Surgery (Dr. Katie Kimbrough, Program Director).

Orthopaedic Expertise
Dr. Jeffrey Stambough, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, shared his expertise as an invited faculty member for a special educational course on “Avoiding Problems and Addressing Early Failures in Primary Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty” at the Mid-America Orthopaedic Association’s recent annual meeting. Dr. Stambough spoke on the importance of properly optimizing patients before surgery, appropriate antibiotic stewardship, and specific diagnostic and revision techniques to manage failed total knee arthroplasty. Kudos to Dr. Stambough for his outstanding clinical care and teaching at UAMS and at the national level.

Consultant of the Month
Second-year Urology resident Dr. Thomas Soehner has been named Consultant of the Month by Emergency Medicine residents. The monthly award recognizes collegiality across departments and a willingness to teach during consults in the Emergency Department, as well as exceptional dedication to patients. “He goes above and beyond just giving recommendations, and takes the time to talk and teach about the reasons behind them,” said one resident. Congratulations Dr. Soehner, and thank you for exemplifying collegiality and compassionate care.

Medicine & Meaning
The fourth issue of Medicine and Meaning, UAMS’ online literary journal, is now available, and it is chock-full of creative works by UAMS staff, faculty and learners, along with other contributors from outside of UAMS. The editorial team, led by Dr. Paulette Mehta, has done a great job curating the offerings of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, images and more. I hope you have an opportunity to explore this wonderful new issue. Dr. Mehta’s welcome message is a great place to start. Many thanks to Editor-in-Chief Dr. Mehta; Founding Editor Dr. Erick Messias; and Section Editors Eric Moorehead, Metu Osele, Dr. Vicki Flynn, Chris Fettes, Dr. Allen C. Sherman, Dr. Bill Ventres and Chris Lesher.

A Welcome, and a Thank You, for our Urology Leadership
This month marks a transition in the Department of Urology as Dr. Tim Langford begins his service as Chair and Dr. Rodney Davis steps down after leading the department since 2012. I want to express our gratitude to Dr. Davis for his outstanding service, which included graciously postponing his retirement and continuing to lead Urology during the search for his successor. Dr. Davis, an internationally recognized expert in treating urologic malignancies, will continue seeing patients and serving on the faculty until late this year, so be sure to wish him well when you see him. Dr. Langford, whose recruitment was announced in May, is a leader in urology in Arkansas and the region with more than 28 years in private practice. Welcome back to your alma mater, Dr. Langford!

Accolades – October 6, 2021

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!

Honoring Service to UAMS
Congratulations to our team members who are being recognized for their many years of service to UAMS. This year’s honorees include the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology’s Dr. Howard Conaway, who earned his 50-year pin, and two 45-year COM team members, Dr. Joan Cranmer of the Department of Pediatrics and Andrea Easom, APRN, of the Department of Internal Medicine‘s Division of Nephrology. Many others have made countless contributions over 30, 35 or 40 years at UAMS. Employees are recognized after every five years of service, and those with 20-plus years were invited to a virtual celebration held yesterday. Learn more about Dr. Conaway, Dr. Cranmer and Ms. Easom, and see lists of all of this year’s Employee Service Award recipients, here.

Insights on Early Antibody Treatment
Internal Medicine resident Dr. Lana Abusalem and Infectious Diseases Fellow Dr. Cole Wood presented data from UAMS at the national IDWeek Conference that indicates the optimal time for providing monoclonal antibody infusion (mAb) for COVID-19 patients. The data from the UAMS team, led by Dr. Juan Carlos Rico and Infectious Diseases Fellowship Director Dr. Ryan Dare, showed improved outcomes when mAb was given within the first five days of symptom onset. Their research has gained national attention and was recently highlighted in InfectiousDiseaseAdvisor as a high-impact study. Well done.

WHO Keynote Speaker
Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Chief Resident Dr. Tommy Martin did a fantastic job delivering a keynote presentation last week for a World Health Organization panel that is addressing health care misinformation. Dr. Martin presented “Social Media: Maximizing your Message” to health care personnel and scientists from around the world as part of WHO’s Operation Fides. Way to go, Dr. Martin!

Fantastic at FMX
The UAMS Little Rock Family Medicine Residency Program was well represented at the annual FMX (Family Medicine Experience) Conference. The residency’s faculty team – Drs. Shashank Kraleti, Lauren Gibson-Oliver, Diane Jarrett and Beth Schmit – had seven posters accepted for presentation. Third-year resident Dr. Swapna Manyam co-authored two of the posters, and medical students Molly Kyle, Emily Phelps and Erica Dewey coauthored three. The UAMS team’s topics included wellness, peer-evaluation and implementation of longitudinal curricula. FMX is the largest family medicine conference with more than 5,000 physicians, students and American Academy of Family Physicians members participating. The Department of Family and Preventive Medicine also had four posters accepted at the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine national conference this year.

Advocating for Student Diversity
A shout-out to Kimberlyn Blann, Associate Director of Admissions & Outreach Programs in the College of Medicine, on her appointment as Co-Chair of the UAMS Underrepresented Student Recruitment, Engagements and Retention Subcommittee. The subcommittee, appointed by Dr. Brian Gittens, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, advocates for UAMS students across the state with regard to diversity, equity and inclusion. Kimberlyn served in the Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion prior to joining the Dean’s Office in May. She will bring expertise, energy and a strong commitment to UAMS’ core values in diversity to her work as Co-Chair alongside Dr. Eduardo Ochoa, Associate Professor and Community Pediatrics Section Chief.

Best Practices Publication
Dr. Muhammad Athar, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, coauthored a tutorial on best anesthesia practices for Caesarean Delivery for Anaesthesia Tutorial of the Week (ATOTW). The online continuing medical education resource from the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) is widely used around the globe. Congratulations, Dr. Athar.

Putting Patients First
Finally this week, it is my great pleasure to share an essay by UAMS Northwest faculty member Dr. Sharon Reece that has just been published in JAMA. Dr. Reece serves as the Family Medicine champion for our new three-year primary care scholars M.D. track on our regional campus in Fayetteville. She was recently appointed to be the Family Medicine Clerkship lead in Northwest Arkansas and serves as the regional simulation education expert. Dr. Reece writes eloquently in “Good Enough for Whom?” about the year she spent with an indigenous community in remote northern Canada – and the realizations she came to about herself and what it truly means to put patients first. We are incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Reece on our team. You can read her essay here.