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.

The Case of the Killer Agar

Scientists are inherently sleuths, but the description would be especially apt for members of the laboratory of Dr. Wayne Wahls, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. A news article published last week by Science tells of the mystery of how toxic agar – used to grow colonies of microbes in petri dishes – was killing the yeasts being studied in the Wahls lab and other laboratories around the world.

“This was a major problem,” explains Dr. Wahls, “because it interrupted our NIH-funded research on how chromosomes behave during cell divisions.” Staff Scientist Dr. Reine Protacio discovered the nature of the problem and diagnosed the bad agar last summer. Dr. Wahls posted about it on an international email list, setting off a concerted effort by scientists around the world to try to get to the bottom of the matter. Professor Dr. Mari Davidson also shares insights in the news article in Science. If you like a good mystery – or a great story about the scientific community – check out the Science article or read more on the Biochemistry website.

UAMS Named MDS Center of Excellence

UAMS has been designated as a Center of Excellence by the MDS Foundation, an international organization dedicated to improving the lives of patients and families impacted by myelodysplastic syndromes. MDS is a group of bone marrow disorders that can cause infection, anemia, spontaneous bleeding and bruising, and which sometimes progresses to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The Center of Excellence designation was the result of multifaceted efforts including scholarly work and outstanding patient care. Kudos to Dr. Muthu Veera Kumaran, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Clinical Director of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, and everyone on the Hematology and Myeloma teams, for their dedication to patients with MDS. Dr. Kumaran and Dr. Ankur Varma, Associate Professor, will focus on further enhancing MDS patient care.

Assessing Parkinson’s Disease

First-year Neurology resident Dr. Jennie Burns is first author on a new article that analyzes how gait markers track with the progression of Parkinson’s disease severity. The article, accepted for publication in the journal Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, discusses how tandem gait step-width increases more rapidly in individuals who are more severely affected with Parkinson’s disease. Tandem gait refers to walking with very small steps in a straight line, and it is used by neurologists to diagnose and assess disorders such as Parkinson’s. Dr. Burns conducted the research while still in medical school at UAMS under the mentorship of Dr. Tuhin Virmani, Associate Professor, Chief of the Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders and Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Neurology, and Dr. Reid Landes, Professor in the Department of Biostatistics. 

Summer is for Science

Summertime may conjure images of the beach for some, but at UAMS, it’s an opportunity for medical students, undergraduates and even high school students to hit the lab or join in other activities where the focus is on science. Researchers across the College of Medicine and UAMS devote countless hours to mentoring students at every level and helping them understand how they can be a member of the next generation of scientists devoted to improving health. The 11^th Annual Arkansas Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium, where students from 39 colleges and universities presented research, is a great example. Another, the National Institutes of Health-supported Partnership in Cancer Research, is now in its fourth year of providing eight-week research internships for medical students. I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to read about these outstanding programs and the faculty and staff who make them successful. We appreciate all who are involved in these programs and the many other summer research programs at UAMS.

Potential Alzheimer’s Treatment

Dr. Akshatha Ganne, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Geriatrics, is first author on a new article reporting the potential of an FDA-approved cholesterol drug, ezetimibe, as a treatment for Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Joining her in the study were senior and corresponding authors Dr. Srinivas Ayyadevara, Associate Professor of Geriatrics, and Dr. Robert J. Shmookler Reis, Professor of Geriatrics, and colleagues from multiple departments at UAMS. The team’s findings were published in the journal Aging Biology. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Hello, Class of 2028!

Finally this week, a very special welcome to our incoming M1s. It was a joy to see all of you on the first morning of Freshman Orientation yesterday. I hope the rest of your week and the start of classes next Monday go well. All of us in the College of Medicine wish you the very best during your four years of medical school. We are excited to think about the great things you will do while you are here and in the decades ahead.

As we welcome these future doctors, I also want to take a moment to thank all of you who have been working hard to ensure the Class of 2028 gets off to a great start. Kudos to our Academic Affairs and Admissions leaders, faculty and staff, including Program Manager Jennifer VanEcko, who has worked tirelessly on activities for incoming freshmen.   

A shout-out as well to the 20-plus student volunteers who have been helping this week and/or with the MedEd Ready program last week. MedEd Ready provided a jumpstart for 13 incoming freshmen, with tours, workshops, lectures on study skills, and more. The M2 volunteers for this program, all of whom participated in MedEd Ready last year, included M2 Class President Harmoney Overturf, Andria Carter, Jason Muka and Grace Tidwell.   

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.

New Hope for Fighting Cervical Cancer

The results of an international clinical trial led by Dr. Michael Birrer, Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, may offer hope for women with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer. The results were published last week in JAMA Oncology. Dr. Birrer led the two-year, multi-site study of a novel bispecific antibody, Bintrafusp alpha, in 146 women with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer that had progressed during or after platinum-based chemotherapy. The treatment resulted in a tumor response in 22% of the patients, and more than half of these patients had a durable response of six months or more.

The pursuit of better treatments for cervical cancer is imperative. As discussed in this UAMS news release, an estimated 4,360 women in the United States will die from cervical cancer this year. Arkansas has one of the highest incidence and mortality rates per capita for cervical cancer. There are currently only two FDA-approved treatments for recurring or metastatic cervical cancer, and neither is curative. Dr. Birrer is on the forefront of international efforts to move the needle on cervical cancer treatment and outcomes.

World-Class Epilepsy Care

The UAMS Comprehensive Epilepsy Center has again been accredited as a Level 4 epilepsy center, the highest designation from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. UAMS first earned the two-year accreditation in 2018 for professional expertise, facilities, and dedication to providing world-class medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy. Special thanks to Dr. Sisira Yadala, Associate Professor of Neurology and Director of the Division of Electrodiagnostics (Epilepsy and Neuromuscular Disorders); Dr. Viktoras Palys, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery and Surgical Director of the Epilepsy Center; neurologists Drs. Harshad Ladha, Dr. Salman Zahoor and Dr. Taqi Zafar; and Taneicie Sabb, APRN.

Training the Next Generation of Addiction Researchers

A shout-out to the UAMS Addiction Research Training Program and the many colleagues across UAMS who have ensured its success over the past 15 years. The program has supported the development of 104 trainees since 2009 and recently received a $2.4 million grant renewal from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to continue its important work for another five years. Dr. Melissa Zielinski, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, and Dr. William Fantegrossi, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, serve as Co-Directors. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

National Recognition for Surgical Teaching

Congratulations to Dr. Mary Katherine Kimbrough, Professor and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Surgery, on her induction as an Associate Member of the American College of Surgeons’ prestigious Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. At UAMS, Dr. Kimbrough is an award-winning educator with tremendous impact on our residents and students through many roles, including current Program Director of the General Surgery Residency and previous Program Director for the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, which she built from the ground up. Read more about the honor and Dr. Kimbrough here.

Abdominal Pain Management Insights

Anesthesiology resident Dr. Shawn Shoham is first author of a new article on a novel use of botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) for treatment of chronic focal abdominal pain. The article, accepted for publication in the journal Pain Medicine, discusses the use of BoNT-A in Celiac Plexus Block, which has been shown to be an effective intervention for the complex challenge of managing chronic focal abdominal pain. Dr. Jarna Shah, Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Pain Medicine Fellowship, is senior author on the article.

BioVentures Launches Podcast

UAMS-based BioVentures has launched the BioVentures Podcast to showcase some of its many initiatives and success stories. BioVentures manages the intellectual property generated at UAMS and helps inventors and startups to commercialize their technology. The impact extends far beyond the borders of UAMS, as the first episode, highlighting the Arkansas Collaborative for Technological and Innovative Venture Equality (ACTIVE), shows. This summer, ACTIVE began working with the inaugural 25 health care and health technology companies from across Arkansas under a four-year, $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency. Outreach Coordinator Joe Schaffner, MPA, led the development of the podcast and serves as host. Senior Program Manager Dr. Stefanie Kennon-McGill and Program Manager Dmitri Scott joined him to talk about ACTIVE.  

Medical Student Olympian

Many at UAMS are following the thrills of competition at the Summer Olympics in Paris, but the games and events leading up to them are a particularly exciting and familiar experience for fourth-year UAMS Northwest MD/MPH student Megan Clark. In June 2021, just a couple of months before matriculating at UAMS, the accomplished pole vaulter competed at the U.S. Olympic trials for track and field.

Megan has since retired from pole vaulting and devotes her time to being an outstanding medical student. Last week, she was one of a handful of medical students around the country to be highlighted in a feature on current and former medical student Olympians on the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website. Congratulations, Megan!

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.

Generating Primary Care & Rural Physicians for Arkansas

We are thrilled with the news this week that UAMS has again been recognized as a national leader for educating graduates who go on to practice primary care and serve in the areas of Arkansas where they are needed most. U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 list of Best Medical Schools ranked UAMS fourth nationally for primary care education, ninth for most graduates practicing in health professional shortage areas, and 11^th for graduates practicing in rural areas. We have seen steady improvements in these annual rankings, and this year’s marked a significant jump. (Read more here.)

Our college is committed to generating more physicians for communities across our state, to ensure all Arkansans have access to high-quality primary care. Many of you have impacted our impressive national rankings and what they signify for the future of our state. Thank you for your inspired teaching and mentoring, advocacy for primary care fields and rural practice, and support for our students as they consider their specialty options and strive to become outstanding physicians.

Ensuring Good Health for Older Arkansans

As the population continues to age, the work of the Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC) to improve the health and care of older adults is more important than ever. AGEC, a part of the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and Department of Geriatrics, will receive a major boost from a $5 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. The Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program grant will support AGEC’s efforts to provide specialized training for health professionals, students, caregivers and others across Arkansas who work with older adults. Kudos to Geriatrics Chair and Institute on Aging Director Dr. Jeanne Wei, AGEC Director Dr. Robin McAtee and the entire AGEC team for their work on this grant and ongoing dedication to older Arkansans. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Improving Pediatric Hypertension Screening

A successful quality improvement project at Arkansas Children’s to increase and improve pediatric hypertension screening in general pediatric clinics is highlighted in a new article in Pediatric Quality & Safety. Dr. Laura Sisterhen, Professor of General Pediatrics, is senior author on the paper, which also was circulated as the “Article of the Week” by PEDHTN, an international forum for health care professionals working in the field of pediatric hypertension. Coauthors from the Department of Pediatrics included Drs. Richard Blaszak, Brendan Crawford, Mohammad Ilyas and James Magee. Former faculty member Dr. Vildan Tas was first author, and Arkansas Children’s staff members Rachel Achor Jones, MPH and Dr. John Forbus also were coauthors.

COVID & Cardiovascular Disease

Dr. J.L. Mehta, Distinguished Professor of Internal Medicine, Physiology and Cell Biology and Pharmacology and Toxicology, is the senior author of an article on COVID-19 and atherosclerosis published as a State-of-the-art Review in the American College of Cardiology’s JACC: Advances. The rising incidence of atherosclerotic disease globally and magnitude of the recent pandemic has illuminated the need to better understand the association between SARS-CoV-2 and atherosclerosis. Dr. Vignesh Chidambaram, a graduate of the UAMS Internal Medicine Residency Program who is now a clinical fellow at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, is first author. Additional UAMS coauthors include Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship graduate Dr. Murrium Sadaf, and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine faculty members Dr. Subhi Al’Aref and Dr. Tushar Tarun.

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.

Best Hospital – and More

It was wonderful to hear that U.S. News & World Report has named UAMS as a 2024-2025 Best Hospital, and that nine treatments or procedures were designated as “high performing.” The areas are colon cancer surgery; heart failure; hip fracture; hip replacement; knee replacement; leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; lung cancer surgery; pneumonia; and stroke. You may recall that last month, U.S. News named UAMS Medical Center as a Best Regional Hospital for Equitable Access.

These distinctions are the result of the UAMS clinical leadership team headed by Dr. Michelle Krause, Senior Vice Chancellor for UAMS Health and Chief Executive Officer for UAMS Medical Center, and the dedication of team members across many disciplines. In the College of Medicine, we are grateful to the physicians and myriad other health professionals across UAMS for making our academic medical center an outstanding place for patients, students, residents, fellows and colleagues. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Improving Treatment of Pediatric Epilepsy

Dr. Debopam Samanta, Professor of Pediatric Neurology and Medical Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at Arkansas Children’s, led a group of 15 experts in a review of the existing evidence and recommendations for treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy, with the goal of bridging the largely adult-focused data to improve pediatric care. This major undertaking by the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium, for which Dr. Samanta is the local Principal Investigator, has now been published in Epilepsy Research. The article focuses on electrical stimulation of the thalamus through deep brain stimulation (DBS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS). While these techniques have been approved for use in adults, their application in pediatric epilepsy has remained limited. However, Arkansas Children’s is now offering these groundbreaking techniques through its Epilepsy Program. Dr. Gregory Albert, Professor of Neurosurgery and Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, also was a coauthor.

Top 10 Dermatopathology Paper

Dr. Sara Shalin, Professor of Pathology and Dermatology and Chair of the Department of Dermatology, was a co-author of an article that has become one of the top 10 most-cited papers published in the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, the leading journal in its field, in recent years. The March 2022 article reports evidence-based recommendations for a wide range of ancillary diagnostic testing in dermatopathology from the Appropriate Use Committee within the American Society of Dermatopathology. Dr. Shalin has served on the committee since 2018, contributing special expertise in melanoma pathogenesis, inflammatory skin diseases and other cutaneous malignancies.

National Neuropathology Meeting

UAMS had a strong presence at the American Association of Neuropathologists (AANP) annual meeting with presentations and other contributions from Department of Pathology neuropathologists Dr. Murat Gokden, Professor, and Dr. Stephen Nix, Assistant Professor. Both presented research stemming from institutional and national collaborations. Third-year resident Dr. Hannah Cutshall and rising M2 student Hallie Samuel both presented posters on hematolymphoid lesions of the central nervous system, and Dr. Cutshall received an AANP trainee award for her presentation. The meeting marked the 100^th anniversary of the AANP. Dr. Gokden served on the planning committee for historical and archival material in addition to other roles with the AANP including councilor to the International Society of Neuropathology, member-at-large to the executive council and a member of the website committee.

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.

Way to Go, TRI!

Congratulations to Dr. Laura James and the entire team in the UAMS Translational Research Institute (TRI) on the successful $31.7 million Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) renewal. The highly competitive funding from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be used to continue TRI’s exceptional work to cultivate and support UAMS researchers and partners across the state in efforts to accelerate discoveries to transform health.

Dr. James has provided superb leadership for TRI since 2014 ­­­and will continue to serve as Principal Investigator on the CTSA, which includes a primary award of $26.9 million over seven years. Dr. James, a Professor of Pediatrics, also serves as UAMS Associate Vice Chancellor for Clinical and Translational Research.

The new funding includes two additional grants. The K12 Mentored Research Career Development Scholar Award Program will receive $3.78 million over five years. Co-Directors are Dr. John Arthur, Professor and Director of the Division of Nephrology; Dr. Elisabet Borsheim, Professor of Pediatrics; and Dr. Mario Schootman, Professor and Director of Research in the Institute for Community Health Innovation. The T32 Health Sciences Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program will receive $952,975 over five years. The program will be led by Dr. John Imig, Professor and Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy.

Many College of Medicine faculty have contributed to TRI’s accomplishments and will continue to lead its state-of-the-art programs. These include individuals from the departments of Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Biomedical Informatics, Neurology, Biostatistics and Surgery. In addition, TRI works closely with the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Institute for Community Health Innovation and the UAMS Office of Research and Innovation. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Championing STEM in Northwest Arkansas

Dr. Kevin D. Phelan, Professor of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, has long been a champion of introducing young Arkansans to health and medicine-related technologies and careers through STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) outreach and pipeline initiatives, in addition to his outstanding work with medical students. Most recently, he received a $1.3 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to launch the Arkansas Technology and Data Science in Health and Medicine (AR Tech-DaSH) program in Northwest Arkansas. The program is tailored for underserved and underrepresented high school students, with the long-term aim of building a more diverse health care and STEM workforce.

Co-Investigators on the project include Dr. Paul Drew, Professor and Chair of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, Jessica Presley, MPP, Senior Director of Evaluation in the Institute for Community Health Innovation, and Dr. Brian Gittens, Vice Chancellor for Academic Pathways and Workforce Partnerships. Learn more about AR Tech-DaSH in the UAMS Newsroom.

Insights into HLA Structures

A new paper by UAMS colleagues sheds light on DNA structural features relating to Major Histocompatability Locus (MHC), or Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes, where variations are responsible for more diseases than in the entire rest of the human genome. UAMS coauthors include Dr. David Ussery, Professor of Biomedical Informatics; Dr. Terry Harville, Professor of Pathology and Internal Medicine/Hematology; Dr. Visanu Wanchai, a postdoctoral fellow in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute/Myeloma Center; and Clinical Informatics fellow Dr. Jonathan Chastain.

FACP Election

A shout-out to Dr. Sri Obulareddy, Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, on her election as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP). Dr. Obulareddy is a breast cancer oncologist in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. She also serves on the Governor’s Advisory Council of the American College of Physicians (ACP) Arkansas Chapter.

Suicide Prevention Research

Dr. Sara Landes, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, presented two posters at the AcademyHealth 2024 annual research meeting in Baltimore June 28-July 2. AcademyHealth is a nonpartisan, non-profit professional organization dedicated to advancing the fields of health services research and health policy. Dr. Landes presented a poster based on her research on “Implementation of a lethal means safety intervention at the Veterans Crisis Line: Mailing devices to enhance access to suicide prevention” and another on “Randomized evaluation of the Caring Letters Suicide Prevention Intervention following contact with the Veterans Crisis Line.”

Navigating Conflict in Physician-Patient (and other) Communications

Dr. Sofie Morgan, Associate Chief Quality Officer for Patient Experience and Associate Chief Medical Officer for UAMS Health, penned a thoughtful blog post on navigating conflict in physician communication for the Beryl Institute’s Patient Experience Blog. “Many perceive conflict narrowly as a win-lose situation,” explains Dr. Morgan, an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and certified professional coach. This can hamper doctor-patient relationships and exacerbate stress.

“Moving from ‘I lose, you win’ or ‘I win, you lose’ to ‘We both win’ or even ‘There’s no such thing as winning’ transforms conflict from a threat to a learning opportunity,” Dr. Morgan writes. “It acknowledges the natural diversity of perspectives and fosters an environment where understanding precedes solutions, and human connection transcends individual outcomes.”

The blog post offers several tools for managing conflict that would be helpful not only in difficult physician-patient communications, but in all communications. Check it out here.

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.

Special Article Highlights Major Cardiovascular Advance

Dr. J.L. Mehta, Distinguished Professor of Internal Medicine, Physiology and Cell Biology and Pharmacology and Toxicology, is the senior author on a review article published in the American Heart Association journal Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology as part of a special series marking AHA’s 100^th anniversary. “Direct Impact of PCSK9 on SMC Senescence and Apoptosis: A New Focus in Cardiovascular Diseases” is one of 100 invited publications by international experts and thought leaders on the past, present and future of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular research and care.

The article discusses one of the major advances in cardiovascular research, the significance of the relationship between PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) and aging and apoptosis of smooth muscle cells. Additional research in this area is important for future efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases. Co-authors with Dr. Mehta include Dr. Philip Palade, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and scientists at Xinxiang Medical University in China who were previous students of Dr. Mehta.

El Dorado Initiative Gets Boost

UAMS’ initiative to reestablish a Family Medicine Residency Program in El Dorado received a boost with a $750,000 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. UAMS was one of only 15 organizations nationwide to receive funding through a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services initiative to develop rural residency training programs and generate much-needed physicians for rural communities. Dr. Richard Turnage, Vice Chancellor for UAMS Regional Campuses, is Principal Investigator on the grant. Dr. Donya Watson, Associate Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, is Co-Investigator and will serve as Program Director for the residency, which aims to welcome its first trainees in 2026. Kudos to Dr. Turnage, Dr. Watson and colleagues for their work to bring this important training program to southern Arkansas. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Talk Draws on Diabetes Expertise and Personal Experience

Dr. Joseph Henske, Associate Professor in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Director of the UAMS Diabetes Program, was an invited speaker at the Endocrine Society’s ENDO 2024 conference in Boston last month. In his talk, “Management of Exercise and Type 1 Diabetes: Avoiding Peaks and Dangerous Valleys,” he spoke about exercise physiology and its effects on blood glucose, providing expert guidance for clinicians and patients. Dr. Henske, who has type 1 diabetes and is an accomplished runner, drew on personal experiences for the cases and concepts he discussed in the presentation. 

National Panel on Psychiatry Education

Dr. Samidha Tripathi, Associate Professor and Director of the Department of Psychiatry’s clerkship program, was a presenter at the annual meeting of the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry in Pittsburgh. Dr. Tripathi lent her expertise to a panel discussion on changes in medical student education across the country with increasing class sizes, expanding campuses and the evolving need to incorporate a “hybrid” model of virtual plus in-person learning.

Champions for Breastfeeding

The Department of Pediatrics’ Dr. Emily Beckett, Assistant Professor in the Community Pediatrics Section, and Dr. Misty Virmani, Associate Professor in Neonatology, are among the first class of physicians nationally and internationally to graduate from the Lessons in Lactation Advanced Curriculum (LILAC) fellowship program offered through the University of Rochester in New York. Their accomplishment is another big step in the efforts of UAMS and Arkansas Children’s to improve maternal and infant mortality rates across Arkansas through many initiatives including breastfeeding and lactation support. Associate Professor Dr. Carla Brown (Neonatology) was recently accepted and started the fellowship in July. 

The Impact of Mentorship

Dr. Wayne Bryant Jr., Assistant Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine and Associate Director of the UAMS Little Rock Family Medicine Residency Program, is lauded for his mentorship in a personal essay published in the Journal of Graduate Medical Education. The essay, titled “On Mentors and Mentality,” was written by Dr. John Ukadike, a 2023 graduate of the program, who discusses how Dr. Bryant “left an indelible mark” on his professional and personal journey. “His mentorship has paved the way for my growth and success,” writes Dr. Ukadike, who is continuing his training with an additional residency in emergency medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “(Dr. Bryant) instilled within me the courage to believe in myself.”

The Gift of Stem Cell Donation

College of Medicine students understand the life-saving potential of blood stem cell transplants for many diseases, including blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma – and the importance of NMDP, the National Marrow Donor Program for connecting patients with matching donors. Many of our students have taken the time to register with NMDP over the years. Senior Alex Rieth was recently notified he was a match for a patient, and he traveled to Houston in June to donate stem cells. Thank you, Alex. We’re proud of you!

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.

Newly Invested Endowed Chair

Congratulations to Dr. Brian Kirkpatrick, Professor of Psychiatry, on his investiture in the Dr. John Emmett Peters Endowed Chair in Psychiatry at UAMS on June 13. An internationally renowned expert in schizophrenia and related diseases, Dr. Kirkpatrick serves as Medical Director of the Psychiatric Research Institute’s Odyssey Clinic, which treats patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and other psychotic disorders. He joined the faculty in 2022 after holding key leadership posts at other institutions including Chair of Psychiatry at Scott & White Hospital and the Texas A&M School of Medicine, and at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine. The endowed chair was established with an anonymous gift in honor of the late Dr. John Emmett Peters, a distinguished child psychiatrist who served at UAMS and in central Arkansas for more than 30 years. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Breakthrough Treatment for Major Depression

The UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute (PRI) is drawing national attention after becoming the first in the country to implement an innovative therapy for adults with major depressive disorder. The SAINT neuromodulation system, developed by Magnus Medical Inc., was approved by the FDA to treat adults with depression that has not improved through antidepressant medications. The breakthrough inpatient therapy uses the resources of the Interventional Psychiatry Program, the Helen L. Porter and James T. Dyke Brain Imaging Research Center, and inpatient and outpatient resources in PRI. A shout-out to Dr. Laura Dunn, Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and PRI Director, Interventional Psychiatry team members Drs. Lou Ann Eads, Jeffrey Clothier, Amy Grooms, Chris Cargile and Andy James, and all who were instrumental in this initiative. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Statewide Initiative Aims to Reduce Unintended Pregnancies

Kudos to Dr. Nirvana Manning, Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and colleagues for their work to implement a statewide initiative to help reduce unintended or closely spaced pregnancies. The Arkansas Immediate Postpartum Long-acting Reversible Contraceptive (LRAC) Initiative provides training and other support for hospitals across the state to begin offering contraceptives such as intrauterine devices and birth-control implants in the immediate postpartum period. Unplanned and closely spaced pregnancies can contribute to poor maternal and neonatal health outcomes, and Arkansas ranks among the worst states for maternal mortality. The LRAC initiative will help to improve those outcomes. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Emergency Medicine in Spotlight at National Meeting

The Department of Emergency Medicine was well represented at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) meeting in Phoenix. Congratulations to residents Dr. Ashley Boshe, Dr. Ethan Clement and Dr. Brett James on finishing in the top 20 out of 105 teams from across the country in the “SonoGames” test of knowledge. Faculty contributors to the competition included Associate Professors Dr. Jason Arthur, who served on the SonoGames Executive Committee and co-emceed the event, and Dr. Zachary Lewis. Associate Professor Dr. Carly Eastin wrapped up a three-year term as Chair of the SAEM Evidence-Based Healthcare and Implementation Interest Group. Associate Professor Dr. Michael Wilson was named Chair of the SAEM Behavioral Interest Group. Several faculty and trainees presented posters and/or at didactic sessions.

Showcase Highlights COBRE Achievements

The Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Inflammatory Responses has played an enormous role in mentoring and supporting early-career UAMS researchers since its inception in 2012. The center, led by Dr. Mark Smeltzer, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, is UAMS’ longest-running COBRE (Centers for Biomedical Research Excellence), and it recently was the focus of the first in-person Showcase of Medical Discoveries event at UAMS since the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded more than $27 million to the center during its three funding phases. Researchers supported by the center have, in turn, secured more than three times that amount in external funding over the years. Read more about the center’s impact in the UAMS Newsroom.

Breast Imaging Leader Named FACR

Congratulations to Dr. Gwendolyn Bryant-Smith, Division Director of Breast Imaging in the Department of Radiology and Director of the Breast Center in Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, on being named a Fellow of the American College of Radiology (FACR). This is a well-earned honor for Dr. Bryant-Smith, whose leadership has significantly enhanced breast cancer screening and the care of breast cancer patients in Arkansas. As Cancer Institute Director Dr. Michael Birrer noted in a UAMS news release, Dr. Bryant-Smith is also a champion for expanding access to screening for women in rural areas and reducing cancer disparities.

Students Present Anatomy Research

Medical students Nicole Occidental, Emily Tran and John Lee did a great job presenting their anatomy-related research in poster presentations at the annual conference of the International Association of Medical Science Educators in Minneapolis this month. Nicole, a rising M2, presented “Student Observations of Ipsilateral Missing Psoas Major and Iliacus Muscles and Downstream Effects of Surgical Intervention.” Her poster reported findings that a five-member anatomy dissection team discovered during the Human Structure course. Emily, now an M3, presented “A Comparison Study of the Efficacy of Artistic and Non-Artistic Approaches on Learning Retention and Stress Levels in an Advanced Anatomy Course.” John, who is now an M4, presented “ChatGPT Lecture Preparation for Introductory Anatomical Courses.” John’s poster reported the collaborative work of five students who served as Anatomical Scholar teaching assistants in the Fall 2023 Human Structure course. Click here for photos. The students’ travel was supported by the Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences.

Congratulations, Retirees and Emeritus Professors

Finally this week, I want to take a moment to thank our colleagues who are retiring this summer or who retired earlier in 2023-2024, with special gratitude for the longstanding service of those receiving the distinction of Professor Emeritus. This status is achieved following the recommendation of a retiring faculty member’s department Chair, approval by the college’s Promotion and Tenure Committee and the Dean, and ultimately through a resolution of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. Emeritus status is granted to faculty who have contributed significantly through research, education, clinical care and leadership.

Our newest Emeritus Professors include the Department of Psychiatry’s Dr. Clint Kilts and Dr. Linda L.M. Worley, who retired earlier this year with Emeritus status effective June 1; and three faculty members who will gain Emeritus status on July 1: Dr. Nicholas Long (Pediatrics), who retired in January; along with Dr. Michael Jennings, who served as Chair of Physiology and Biophysics in 1995-2020, and Dr. Jeannette Lee, Distinguished Professor of Biostatistics, who are both retiring this month.    

At Dean’s Honor Day in April, we recognized several colleagues who became Emeritus Professors in June 2023-January 2024, including Dr. Janice Church (Pediatrics); Dr. Peter Kohler and Dr. Paulette Mehta (Internal Medicine); Dr. Donald Mock (Biochemistry/Molecular Biology); Dr. Frank Simmen and Dr. Rosalia Simmen (Physiology/Cell Biology); and Dr. Puru Thapa (Psychiatry).

It is an understatement to say that our faculty are essential to our mission to improve health through medical education, biomedical discovery and world-class health care. We are grateful to our Emeritus faculty and other retiring faculty, and to all COM faculty, for their contributions to our college and those we serve.

Gold Star Rating

Congratulations to the 12^th Street Health & Wellness Center and its outstanding team of student and faculty volunteers and leaders on again earning a Gold Star rating – the highest awarded – from the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC). The student-run, interprofessional free clinic has served the community while providing valuable learning opportunities for students from all five UAMS colleges and Graduate School since early 2013. The NAFC Standards Program helps ensure that medically underserved areas have access to affordable, quality health care. Of some 1,400 free or charitable clinics across the United States that are registered with the NAFC, only 6% are student-led.

The faculty leadership team at 12^th Street includes Medical Director Dr. Liz Gath, Professor of Internal Medicine, and Center Director Dr. Melissa Halverson, Associate Professor in the College of Health Professions, Department of Physician Assistant Studies. 2024 College of Medicine graduate Dr. Nadia Safar served as Executive Director on the Student Board of Directors this past academic year and has turned over the reins to rising senior Brittany Tian. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

American Thoracic Society Fellow

Dr. Ariel Berlinski, Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Director of the Respiratory Care Department at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and Director of the Pediatric Aerosol Research Laboratory in the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, was recognized at the opening ceremony of the American Thoracic Society’s recent annual conference as a new ATS Fellow. The ATSF distinction is conferred on select members who have made outstanding contributions to the society as well as to the fields of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine.

Otolaryngology Meeting Contributors

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery faculty and trainees recently contributed to the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting in Chicago. Research fellow Dr. Soroush Farsi delivered an oral presentation, “Microvascular Anatomical Factors and Their Impact on Postoperative Outcomes in Free Flap Reconstruction Surgeries,” along with a poster.  Other presenters included Professor Dr. Ozlem Tulunay-Ugur, with two posters, and residents Dr. Chrystal Lau and Dr. Olivia Speed each presenting a poster. Incoming resident and 2024 UAMS graduate Dr. Emily Goodman also presented a poster. Several other students, residents and faculty contributed to the presentations.

Geriatrics Fellows Shine at Conference

A shout-out to Department of Geriatrics fellows Drs. Chander Shekher Aggarwal, Archy Cui, Navya Nalajala and Julie Windholz, who collectively published six abstracts at the recent annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society. Two were highlighted as Presidential Nominations: “Value of Reducing Sympathomimetic Medications in older adults,” coauthored by Dr. Cui and faculty members Dr. Gohar Azhar and Dr. Jeanne Wei; and “Delirium or Dementia: Delirium, a Great Masquerader,” coauthored by Dr. Aggarwal and Geriatrics Fellowship Director Dr. Priya Mendiratta. Additional faculty mentors on the six abstracts included Dr. Kavya Veluvolu and Dr. Olivia Ahrendsen. Faculty member Dr. Kalpana Padala also presented an abstract on medical student education.  

Reducing Firearms Risks in Older Adults

In other scholarly news from the Department of Geriatrics, fellow Dr. Archy Cui is the first author on a commentary published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society on preventive strategies for mitigating firearm risks in older adults with delirium. Older adults can be particularly vulnerable to firearm-related injuries due to cognitive impairment, depression and other factors. Dr. Cui and coauthors Dr. Priya Mendiratta, Professor and Director of the Geriatrics Fellowship, and Dr. Olivia Ahrendson, an adjunct faculty member with the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, call for a multipronged approach encompassing education, advocacy and policy development to reduce the risks.

Arkansas Medical Society Honorees

And finally this week, congratulations to the many UAMS College of Medicine students, residents, fellows and faculty who were honored at the Arkansas Medical Society’s Annual Membership Meeting in May. The AMS instituted a new awards program this year to recognize the outstanding work of both learners and educators. Nominated by program directors, faculty and colleagues, the honorees from UAMS and other institutions were selected for their academic achievements, scholarly work, leadership and community service, and other criteria. The honorees are listed here and featured in the meeting program.