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Accolades – February 9, 2022

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!

Kindness Beats Bad Weather
Last week’s icy conditions were no match for the kindness and dedication of team members throughout our college and UAMS. I want to take a moment to thank all of you who helped patients, colleagues and others weather the storm. Third-year Radiology resident Dr. Razvan Zemianschi is a great example. Dr. Zemianschi came in early and stayed late while on call, and he literally went the extra mile by giving rides to fellow on-call residents in his truck, so the call team could get to campus and back home safely. It was heartwarming to hear about this and other examples of team members’ kindness, such as Geriatrics faculty members offering to deliver medications and groceries for patients, and much more. Thank you all for being the best part of UAMS.

Honoring a Pediatric Radiology Icon
A shout-out to the Department of Radiology for doing a fantastic job hosting a three-day educational celebration last week in recognition of Emeritus Professor Dr. Joanna Seibert. Dr. Seibert was Arkansas’ first pediatric radiologist and led the program at Arkansas Children’s for 23 years. In 2021, she received the Gold Medal Award, the top honor from the Society for Pediatric Radiology. The virtual UAMS conference included Visiting Professor lectures on topics relating to Dr. Seibert’s career contributions and a capstone CME course co-directed by Assistant Professor Dr. Sumera Ali and Professor Dr. Charles James with 10 speakers including a keynote address from Dr. Dorothy Bulas of Children’s National Medical Center.

The event, which drew 75 attendees from across North America, also featured a Regional Pediatric Interventional Radiology Challenging Case Conference and a UAMS Radiology Residents Challenging Case submission contest. Congratulations to residents Dr. George Vilanilam and runner-up Dr. Joyce Joseph on topping the field in the residents’ competition, and to Assistant Professor Dr. Spencer Lewis, runner-up in the Pediatric IR contest.

Eliminating Child Abuse
Congratulations to Dr. Nicola Edge, Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, and Dr. Sufna John, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, on their appointment by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the Blue Ribbon Task Force to End Child Abuse. Created during last year’s regular session of the Arkansas General Assembly, the task force will pursue a systematic and holistic approach to eliminating child abuse in the state. Dr. Edge and Dr. John are Co-Directors of the ARBEST (Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma) program, which works to improve outcomes for children and families who have experienced trauma through activities promoting excellence in child care, advocacy, training and evaluation.

Giving Matters
Finally this week, I would like to mention something that has become so clear over the months I have been at UAMS. Your excellent work in all of our mission areas and across our state continues to inspire generous contributions from patients, philanthropists, foundations and many others. For instance, the Don and Carolyn Kirkpatrick family recently gave $1 million to create an endowed chair in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. The endowment will provide crucial support for Division Director Dr. J. Paul Mounsey, who will become the inaugural holder, and his outstanding team in the UAMS Health Heart Center.

Meanwhile, the Share Foundation pledged $1.5 million to help establish a UAMS Family Medicine Residency Program in El Dorado at what will become UAMS’ ninth regional campus. Kudos to Amy Wenger, MHSA (now Vice Chancellor for UAMS Northwest) for the outstanding leadership she brought to UAMS Regional Campuses, and to Dr. Richard Turnage, current Vice Chancellor for Regional Campuses, for his ongoing work on the El Dorado campus. I plan to highlight more examples of inspiration and generosity in future Accolades, because they reflect how you are making a difference for UAMS and those we serve. Thank you.

Accolades – February 2, 2022

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!

Mentoring Heroes
First this week, let’s have a round of applause for the recipients of the inaugural UAMS Excellence in Mentoring Awards. It was an honor to pay tribute to these exemplary faculty members at the Mentor Appreciation Day virtual ceremony last Thursday.

Women Faculty Mentoring Excellence Award
Dr. Melissa Zielinski, Assistant Professor, Psychiatry

Diversity Faculty Mentoring Excellence Award
Dr. Billy R. Thomas, Professor, Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology

Clinical Emerging Faculty Mentoring Excellence Award
Dr. Joana M. Mack, Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology

Clinical Legend Faculty Mentoring Excellence Award
Dr. Larry G. Johnson, Professor, Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Research Emerging Faculty Mentoring Excellence Award
Dr. Taren M. Swindle, Associate Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Division of Community Research

Research Legend Faculty Mentoring Excellence Award
Dr. Geoffrey M. Curran, Professor, College of Pharmacy

You can read about the honorees here, and watch a video of the ceremony here. I also want to emphasize why having outstanding mentors is so important for our students, residents, fellows and faculty colleagues.

“Mentoring helps all of us succeed and be a better version of ourselves,” explains Dr. Gloria Richard-Davis, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Executive Director of the Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DDEI). “A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you than you see in yourself, and helps you reach your full potential. We all have benefited, and continue to benefit, from mentoring. Whether you are the mentee or the mentor, mentoring relationships are good for you.” Thank you, Dr. Davis. I couldn’t agree more.

DDEI supports a campus-wide diversity mentorship platform to connect interested students and residents with faculty members and alumni who will serve as informal mentors. The voluntary program, called Prometheus, has a searchable database of faculty mentors that students and residents can use to identify a great match. Participants can exchange messages, request meetings, and meet via a Zoom-generated invite. To get started, visit the Up Squad website to create a profile. Click “Yes” on the Community Subscription Code option and enter “DDEI2020” in the Community Code field. Faculty or students interested in serving as a mentor can contact Sharanda Williams, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Diversity, or Renisha Ward, DDEI Director of Outreach Programs, for more information.

AAAS Elected Fellow
Dr. Kevin Raney, Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals. This is a prestigious and well-earned honor for Dr. Raney, who was recognized in the chemistry category for his important contributions to the field of molecular motor proteins on nucleic acids and the function of G-quadruplex nucleic acids during response to cellular stress. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom. Congratulations, Dr. Raney!

Level 1 Excellence
Arkansas Children’s Hospital has been reverified as a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons – a reaffirmation of the exceptional care provided to patients with traumatic injuries. As Arkansas Children’s President and CEO Marcy Doderer, FACHE, notes, this verification reflects “the tremendous work of many teams who deliver unparalleled care, giving children every chance to recover and reach their full potential.” I would like to thank pediatric surgeons Dr. Deidre Wyrick, Trauma Medical Director, and Dr. Todd Maxson, Associate Trauma Medical Director; nurses Kathy Dyck, Trauma Program Manager, and Kirsten Johnston, Patient Care Services Director-Trauma; along with the entire Arkansas Children’s team. Read more in this Arkansas Children’s news release.

National Leaders in Psychiatry Education
The American College of Psychiatrists (ACP) places a high value on creativity in residency programs across the country. Dr. Molly Gathright, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Vice Dean for Graduate Medical Education, has been named Vice Chair of the ACP committee that selects a residency program for the annual Award for Creativity in Education. Meanwhile, Dr. Jim Clardy, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the UAMS Center for GME, is completing his term as Chair of the committee, where he will continue to serve as a member for another year. Dr. Gathright and Dr. Clardy’s roles on this committee are great examples of the UAMS Psychiatry team’s ongoing national leadership in psychiatry education. Congratulations and kudos, Dr. Gathright and Dr. Clardy.

ACGME Institutional Accreditation
Speaking of excellence in residency education, we just received notification from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) that the College of Medicine has achieved another successful annual institutional accreditation. Congratulations to Dr. Molly Gathright and the entire GME team. We are grateful for your hard work and commitment to excellence.

International Presentation
Dr. Indranil “Neil” Chakraborty, Professor of Anesthesiology and Director of the Division of Neuroanesthesiology, presented a well-received virtual guest lecture on “Awake Craniotomy: Challenges and Solutions” at the recent annual conference of the Indian Society of Neuroanesthesiology and Critical Care in Kolkata, India. His talk highlighted the success of the awake craniotomy program at UAMS led by Dr. J.D. Day, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery, and Dr. Analiz Rodriguez, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery. Kudos to Dr. Chakraborty for sharing his expertise and helping to shine the spotlight on the world-class care at UAMS.

National Student Award
And finally this week, a shout-out to MD/PHD student Lauren “Clai” Morehead, who just received a 2022 Medical Student Research Award from the Melanoma Research Foundation. The grant is the latest honor for Clai, who has presented nationally and garnered acclaim for her research into potential treatments for melanoma with mentors Dr. Alan Tackett and Dr. Isabelle Racine Miousse in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Well done!

Pandemic Got You Feeling a Little Foggy? “COM Conversations” Provides New Discussion Forum for UAMS College of Medicine Team Members

Illustration - brain fog; "Pandemic got you feeling a little foggy?"

Feeling a little “foggy”? Worried about lacking “bandwidth” to accomplish things that once seemed doable? Or maybe you are struggling with “decision fatigue.”

College of Medicine Dean Susan Smyth, M.D., Ph.D., and other leaders launched “COM Conversations,” a new virtual journal club and discussion group open to everyone in the COM, with a Jan. 11 Zoom discussion on how the prolonged pandemic is impacting our stress levels, memory and more – and what we can do about it.

“I wanted to start this conversation by saying that if you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, you are not alone,” Smyth told some 60 participants. “This really is affecting all of us in one way or another, and there are normal responses to facing trauma and to being under stress.”

Smyth offered her own anecdotes about forgetting certain things. Others chimed in with their own experiences and concerns, drawing commiserating nods from colleagues:

I wonder what will our “new normal” will look like.

I find myself not having the bandwidth to accomplish what I used to manage.

I have been struggling with decision fatigue.

It is hard to always be at 100% for our patients when in a chronically stressed state.

Dr. Smyth, along with Associate Dean for Students Sara Tariq, M.D., and UAMS Center for GME Director Jim Clardy, M.D., recommended articles in Psychology Today and Sharp Health News about pandemic-related memory issues and strategies for coping.

COM Conversations is a new virtual journal club and discussion group for UAMS College of Medicine team members.

Dr. Clardy, a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, shared additional insights, emphasizing that some forgetfulness during this extremely challenging time is normal. “You don’t have a memory until you ‘make’ one, and when you are chronically stressed and you’re thinking about 10 different things at once, the memory just doesn’t go in,” he said. “One answer to that is to be aware of how quickly you are moving, and pause and just say, ‘I’ve got to remember that.’”

Fatigue and stress also frequently impact how one acts around others. “Some of us get giddy; some of us get angry,” Dr. Clardy said. “And you can swing from one to another really quickly.” Those who are extremely tired and stressed often exhibit disinhibition. “If you do or say things you wouldn’t usually do or say, you are being disinhibited,” he explained.

A third effect of the challenges and constraints of the pandemic – as with other circumstances that result in severe fatigue and stress – is a loss of one’s ability to creatively solve problems, Dr. Clardy said. “I sometimes give myself a self-check by doing a Sudoku puzzle,” he said. “On days when I am really, really tired, I make all sorts of mistakes, and I just kind of laugh about it.”

“The main point I want to say is, we are all in this together,” Dr. Clardy said. “And if you are not completely ‘OK,’ that would probably be about normal right now.”

For those of us who are having trouble finding the “bandwidth” to deal with today’s myriad challenges, Dr. Tariq, a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, shared a metaphoric story she learned from Puru Thapa, M.D., MPH, a Professor of Psychiatry who leads UAMS programs in mindfulness and faculty, resident and student wellness.

Photo of a stream — A stream can be a metaphor for building capacity to cope during stressful times.

It is the tale of a wise woman who is approached by a person who is extremely stressed. The wise woman advises the person to taste a glass of water laced with a teaspoon of salt. After exclaiming how awful the water tastes, the stressed-out person is directed to take a drink from a bucketful of water containing a teaspoon of salt. It tastes better, of course. Finally, the person is instructed to taste water from a stream containing a teaspoon of salt, and it tastes amazing.

“So the moral of the story that Dr. Thapa told me was – build capacity,” Dr. Tariq said. “Your goal is to be like the stream.”

Building personal capacity will differ from person to person, she said, citing exercise and turning off email earlier in the evening as a couple of possibilities, along with the tips shared in the Psychology Today and Sharp Health News articles.

Dr. Smyth noted the importance of paring back some activities whenever possible. “I think it is very hard for those of us who are in health care to give up certain responsibilities,” she said. “We need to recognize that and that it is OK that we can’t get everything done.”

Dr. Smyth hosted a second “COM Conversations” on January 25 with a journal club style discussion of “5 Things High Performing Teams Do Differently,” an article by Ron Friedman in the Harvard Business Review. Upcoming sessions, about once a month, will focus on workplace topics, leadership development and other issues suggested by College of Medicine faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students.

Paul Drew, Ph.D., Appointed Assistant Dean for Research in UAMS College of Medicine

Paul Drew, Ph.D., professor and vice chair of the Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine, has been appointed assistant dean for research in the college. Drew will partner Nancy Rusch, Ph.D., vice dean for research, to lead special initiatives in the College of Medicine Research Office.

Dr. Paul Drew — Paul Drew, Ph.D., has been named assistant dean for research in the UAMS College of Medicine.

“Dr. Drew is an internationally recognized neuroscientist, and he has the innovative skills and leadership experience necessary to establish and direct research initiatives across the College of Medicine,” said Rusch. “He will be an outstanding mentor for new investigators and a strong asset to our scientists at all career levels.”

Drew also serves as director of research in the Department of Neurology, where he holds a secondary appointment, and as co-director of the mock study section program in the UAMS Translational Research Institute. He has held a variety of leadership roles since joining the faculty in 1996, including a term as chair of the college’s Promotion and Tenure Committee and service on the promotion and tenure committees of multiple departments. He has contributed extensively to faculty mentoring.

Drew received his doctorate in zoology (cell and molecular biology) from the University of Maryland. He received postdoctoral training in the Neuroimmunology Branch of the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, National Institutes of Health (NIH).

His research interests include neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases with a focus on multiple sclerosis and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. His research has been steadily funded by the NIH, the National Science Foundation, and private funding agencies including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Rampy Foundation for MS Research. He reviews grants regularly for the NIH, the Department of Defense and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Recent Faculty Appointments January 2022

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

Department of Anesthesiology

Chaya Krishnan, M.D., has rejoined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Krishnan received her medical degree from Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute in Porur, Chennai, India. She completed a compulsory rotatory resident internship in India before coming to UAMS for her anesthesiology residency. She worked as active staff at a couple of surgery centers and then returned to UAMS an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology in 2006-2010. She served most recently as an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis.

Department of Internal Medicine

Dinesh Edem, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology. Dr. Edem received his medical degree from Topiwala National Medical College in Mumbai in 2009. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins University/Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in 2015 and an endocrinology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2017. He most recently served as an endocrinology and obesity medicine physician at Indiana University Health – Arnett.

Gena Miller, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology. Dr. Miller received her medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in 2010. She completed an internal medicine residency in 2014 and an endocrinology fellowship in 2016 at the University of Kentucky. Board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Miller has held positions as an endocrinologist with The Baton Rouge Clinic in Baton Rouge, Louisisana, and the Aspirus Department of Endocrinology in Wausau, Wisconsin, before joining UAMS and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Barbara Porchia, DPM, has joined the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as an Assistant Professor. A podiatrist from Camden, Dr. Porchia brings more than 20 years of experience in treating foot and ankle conditions to UAMS’ orthopaedic team of foot and ankle providers. She received her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland. Dr. Porchia completed her residency in primary podiatric medicine at St. Michael Hospital in Cleveland. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Department of Pediatrics

Salim Aljabari, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Critical Care Medicine Section. Dr. Aljabari received his medical degree at Al-Quds University Faculty of Medicine in Jerusalem, with Dean’s honors. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Texas Tech University, where he was named Chief Resident. Dr. Aljabari continued his training with a fellowship in critical care medicine at Primary Children’s Hospital /University of Utah, and is currently working toward a master’s degree in health administration. He most recently served on the faculty and as a pediatric intensivist at the University of Missouri-Columbia and MU Health Care. Dr. Aljabari’s clinical and research interests include pediatric respiratory failure, post extubation complications, patient safety and quality of care.

Department of Radiology

Bob Dixon, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as a Professor in the Division of Interventional Radiology. Dr. Dixon received his medical degree from the State University of New York, Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. After training in and practicing Emergency Medicine for a decade, he went on to complete a residency in radiology at Upstate Medical University, where he served as Chief Resident. He continued his training with a fellowship in interventional radiology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, where he subsequently served on the faculty as Program Director for the Radiology Residency, the Interventional Radiology Residency and the Interventional Radiology Fellowship programs.

Dr. Dixon’s clinical interests include thermal ablation, portal hypertension, vertebral augmentation, superficial venous disease, complex IVC filter retrievals and prostate artery embolization. Passionate about medical education, Dr. Dixon facilitated the initiation of the Interventional Radiology Fellowship at the University of Nairobi. He currently serves a Program Manager for RAD-AID International – Kenya.

Accolades – January 26, 2022

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!

Landmark Study
Congratulations to Dr. Stacie Jones, Professor in the Allergy and Immunology Division of the Department of Pediatrics, and colleagues on the publication of a landmark study into oral immunotherapy for life-threatening peanut allergy. The study was published in The Lancet, one of the top scientific journals in the world, and touted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci in a NIH news release. The trial, called IMPACT, found that providing oral immunotherapy to highly peanut-allergic children ages 1-3 safely desensitized most of them to peanut and induced remission of peanut allergy in one-fifth.

Dr. Jones, Director of the Food Allergy Research Program in the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, co-led the study and was first author on the publication. It was the result of many years of outstanding work by Dr. Jones along with former faculty member and co-leader of the study Dr. Wesley Burks, who is now Dean of the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine and CEO of UNC Health; UAMS Pediatrics faculty Dr. Amy Scurlock and Dr. Robbie Pesek; and others at five study sites. At Arkansas Children’s, many research coordinators, nurses, dietitians and others contributed to the pivotal study. Read more in the Arkansas Children’s Newsroom.

Global Health Honor
Fourth-year Anesthesiology resident Dr. Mi Mi Kim is one of just four residents nationwide to receive the prestigious 2021-2022 Resident International Anesthesia Scholarship from the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Committee on Global Humanitarian Outreach. The award will support a one-month rotation at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, Botswana. While there, Dr. Kim will gain experience delivering safe anesthesia in a resource-poor setting as well as participate in training and education of local anesthesia providers. Well done Dr. Kim!

Leadership Development
Congratulations to Dr. Tisha Deen, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, on being accepted into the American Psychological Association’s 2022 Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology. The program for mid-career women psychologists prepares, supports and empowers participants to work toward positive changes in institutional, organizational and practice settings and seeks to increase the diversity, number and effectiveness of women psychologists as leaders. At UAMS, Dr. Deen serves as Director of Behavioral Health Integration for the Integrated Medicine Service Line.

Coronavirus Mutation Limits
Dr. David Ussery, Professor of Biomedical Informatics, led a multinational research team that found that coronavirus – despite its ability to create dangerous variants – has limits to its ability to mutate, which should help drug and vaccine manufacturers trying to fight the virus. The team’s observations were published in FEMS Microbiology Reviews. Drawing from global databases of millions of sequenced SARS-CoV-2 genomes, Dr. Ussery and colleagues learned that the virus’ structure makes it slower to mutate with fewer mutation possibilities. The team also included UAMS Biomedical Informatics postdoctoral fellow Dr. Visanu Wanchai. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

The Amazing Case
PGY-4 Diagnostic Radiology resident Dr. Ron Mora returned from the recent International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy (ISET) with more than just new insights into endovascular therapy. He also brought home bragging rights in the “FellowLuminaries: the Amazing Case Competition.” Dr. Mora won first place in the Peripheral Embolization category for his case titled “Massive Hematuria Due to Ectopic Vesical Varices in a Patient with Portal Hypertension.” The presentation stemmed from a case that came in to the UAMS Emergency Department and required emergent interventional radiology intervention with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and embolization. Great job!

More than a Random Act
Finally this week, I would like to share a thoughtful essay that just came to my attention, “More Than a Random Act of Violence,” by Dr. David Spiro, a Professor in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, that was published last fall in the Annals of Emergency Medicine. “Our own Dr. Spiro at ACH writes about an awareness that I think makes us more compassionate physicians when we practice with intentionality and empathy,” Dr. Sara Tariq, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, wrote in an email to students accompanying the article. In telling the tragic story an 18-year-old shooting victim on a Thanksgiving Day, Dr. Spiro discusses his own awareness of privilege – and the realities that many who lack such privilege face. He calls on fellow physicians to acknowledge and address systemic racism and gun violence. Thank you, Dr. Spiro.

Accolades – January 19, 2022

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 Endowed Chair
Congratulations to Dr. Ozlem Tulunay-Ugur, Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, on her investiture last week in the Patricia and J. Floyd Kyser, M.D., Chair in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. This is a well-earned honor for an exemplary colleague. A member of our faculty since 2008, Dr. Tulunay-Ugur directs UAMS’ Laryngology Program and is nationally known for her expertise in geriatric laryngology, including voice and swallowing disorders. Among many national and statewide leadership roles, she is immediate Past President of the American Society of Geriatric Otolaryngology and Past President of the Arkansas Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, for which she currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer.

Welcome, and Thank You
This week we welcome Dr. William Steinbach as he begins his service as Professor and Chair of Pediatrics and Associate Dean for Child Health in our college and Pediatrician-in-Chief for Arkansas Children’s. Dr. Steinbach brings extensive leadership experience in pediatric care, research and education to Arkansas and will be a driving force in UAMS and Arkansas Children’s initiatives to enhance the health and wellbeing of the children of our state. (Read more about Dr. Steinbach here.) We look forward to working with you, Bill!

I want to express my gratitude to Dr. Renee Bornemeier for doing an outstanding job as Interim Chair for more than a year. Dr. Bornemeier has led faculty initiatives on many fronts, and she will now focus on her new role as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Development. (Read more about Dr. Bornemeier here.) Thank you for your ongoing leadership and service to our college, Renee!

Spotlight on Excellence
If you haven’t had a chance yet, be sure to check out the newest video in our Spotlight on Excellence Series. I had a great conversation with Dr. Brian Koss, an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and researcher in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Dr. Koss is Arkansas’ first recipient of the prestigious Director’s Early Independence Award from the National Institutes of Health. Brian and I discussed his innovative approach to cancer research and his goals for making the most of the award. Well done, Dr. Koss. I can’t wait to see what you accomplish!

Journal Leadership
Dr. Rosalia C.M. Simmen, Professor in the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, has been named to the new position of Deputy Editor of Endocrine Connections for a three-year term. Dr. Simmen will oversee the Reviewer Board’s makeup and mentorship and contribute to overall strategies to expand the journal’s emphasis on innovative research and scientific quality. Endocrine Connections is an open-access official journal of the Society for Endocrinology (UK) and the European Society of Endocrinology. The journal publishes basic, translational and clinical research and reviews in all areas of endocrinology.

Pediatric Sedation Insights
Dr. Deepak Choudhary, Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, is the lead author on a study into pediatric procedural sedation (PPS) practices among pediatric emergency medicine practitioners in the United States. The article was published in Pediatric Emergency Care. In a nationwide survey, Dr. Choudhary and collaborators at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital/University at Buffalo, New York, and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, found wide variability in several aspects of pediatric procedural sedation and low adherence to national PPS guidelines.

Tops in Brain Surgery, Stroke Care
A shout-out to our colleagues in Neurosurgery and the Stroke Program on UAMS’ latest recognitions from Healthgrades. UAMS ranked in the top 10% of hospitals nationwide for cranial neurosurgery, earning a 2022 Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award. Healthgrades also named UAMS a Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Stroke. Kudos to Neurosurgery Professor and Chair Dr. J.D. Day, neurosurgeons Drs. Viktoras Palys, Erika Petersen and Analiz Rodriguez, and Ebonye Green, APRN, for their world-class neurosurgical care. Special thanks also to the Department of Neurology’s Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy Onteddu, Medical Director, and Marzella Backus, MNSc, RN, Director of the Stroke Program, for ensuring the very best stroke care for Arkansans.

Radiation Oncology Reaches APEx
Congratulations to Professor and Radiation Oncology Chair Dr. Fen Xia and the Radiation Oncology Center team on leading UAMS to become the first health care institution in Arkansas to achieve full accreditation from the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Accreditation Program for Excellence (APEx). APEx is the society’s highest honor, recognizing centers that meet the most rigorous standards for safety and performance. A tremendous amount of multidisciplinary work went into the accreditation process. Kudos to Medical Director Dr. Sanjay Maraboyina, Clinical Operations Director Greg May, Chief Physicist Dr. Zhong Su, Melissa Peterman, RN, and Radiation Therapist Ashly Cummings.

Service and Compassion in the Wake of the Storm
And finally this week, I’m sure all of us remember the devastating tornadoes that hit northeastern Arkansas on the evening of Dec. 10, destroying the Monette Manor Nursing Home and taking the life of one of the nursing home’s residents. The resident physicians of the UAMS Northeast Family Medicine Residency are the primary care providers for those who lived at Monette Manor. Residency Program Director Dr. Scott Dickson recently wrote to let me and other UAMS leaders know about the residents and a student who truly put patients first that night.

Two second-year residents, Dr. Andrew Bryson and Dr. Logan Bevill, took it upon themselves to travel to Monette to help authorities triage and treat patients, while the program’s other residents and faculty responded to St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Meanwhile, fourth-year medical student Anna Brickell was at home with her family in nearby Caraway when the news hit. She, too, went to Monette to help out.

“It makes me immensely proud that our residents responded so quickly and selflessly, and particularly proud that Drs. Bryson and Bevill went that extra mile to help where needed,” Dr. Dickson wrote. “Anna also should be commended for her dedication to her community and her selflessness.” I couldn’t agree more. Kudos to these outstanding members of the UAMS family!

Accolades – January 12, 2022

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!

Groundbreaking Study
Congratulations to Dr. Intawat Nookaew, Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics, and colleagues on the publication of a groundbreaking study into the presence of extrachromosomal circular DNA in the human male germline (sperm cells) and its connection to the recombination rate of different chromosomes. The article was published in and featured on the cover of Molecular Cell. Dr. Nookaew collaborated on the study with researchers in Denmark along with former UAMS post-doctoral fellows and lecturers Dr. Piroon Jenjaroenpun and Dr. Thidathip Wongsurawat. The team provided high-resolution experimental results using third-generation (long read) sequencing and advanced bioinformatic algorithms, which were essential for this discovery.

Clinical Informatics Honor
Dr. Feliciano “Pele” Yu Jr., Clinical Informatics Section Chief in the Department of Pediatrics, was named Volunteer of the Year by Health Level Seven International (HL7) for his longstanding dedication and contributions to the nonprofit health care data standards development organization. Dr. Yu was a founding member of the HL7 Child Health Work Group and served as its Chair in 2008-2016. Kudos to Dr. Yu for his international leadership in clinical informatics as well as his service as Section Chief, Program Director for the UAMS Clinical Informatics Fellowship Program and Chief Medical Information Officer at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Cancer Society Fellowship
Congratulations to Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute researcher Dr. Kirk West on becoming the first UAMS scientist to be awarded the prestigious American Cancer Society (ACS) Postdoctoral Fellowship. The three-year fellowship will support Dr. West’s research in the cutting-edge, ACS-funded laboratory of his mentor, Dr. Justin Leung, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

Pediatric Resuscitation Leadership
Dr. Steve Schexnayder, Chief of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine and Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, has been reappointed as one of four U.S. representatives on the 17-member International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Pediatric Task Force. Dr. Schexnayder has served on the task force since 2017. Kudos for his national and international contributions in the field as well as his leadership of pediatric critical care medicine here in Arkansas.

Winning Abstract
A shout-out to postdoctoral fellow Dr. John Sherrill and Associate Professor Dr. David Bumpass in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, who co-authored the winning basic science abstract submitted to the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS). Dr. Bumpass presented the top-scoring abstract, “Posterior Cervical Spine Fusion Assemblies Intended to Cross the Cervicothoracic Junction: A Mechanical Analysis,” at the recent annual meeting of CSRS. The full manuscript, with Dr. Sherrill as first author, has been accepted for publication in the journal Clinical Spine Surgery. Dr. Sherrill and Dr. Bumpass collaborated on the study with former faculty member Dr. Erin Mannen.

Top Posters
Congratulations to UAMS Northwest Internal Medicine residents Dr. Lawrence “Tony” Hoyt and Dr. Yash Shah on their winning posters in the Arkansas Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP)) poster competition. Dr. Hoyt, a third-year resident, took top honors for “Initial CAD Evaluation with CCTA and FFRCT” and has been invited to present the poster at the National ACP Annual Meeting in April. Dr. Shah, a second-year resident, was a third-place finisher for his poster “Mixed AIHA as initial presentation of hereditary hemochromatosis.”

Accolades – January 5, 2022

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!

MS Care Recognition
I was delighted to hear that UAMS has been designated as a Center for Comprehensive MS Care by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Kudos to Assistant Professor Dr. Erika Santos Horta, who spearheaded the effort, Department of Neurology Chair Dr. Lee Archer and the entire team in the UAMS Neuro-immunology Clinic for their commitment to providing the very best care for MS patients from across Arkansas and earning this important distinction for UAMS.

Cardiotoxicity Study
Dr. Michael Bauer, Assistant Professor in Biomedical Informatics, and Dr. Valentina Todorova, Assistant Professor in Hematology/Oncology, are co-first authors on a paper published in Cancers. Along with UAMS and VA colleagues in Geriatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Nephrology, Pathology and the College of Public Health, they examined whether the DNA methylation state of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) could predict cardiotoxicity caused by doxorubicin (DOX)-based chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. The team found a significant difference in the pattern of DNA methylation of PBMCs associated with a risk of cardiotoxicity. The study shows the potential for further personalized medicine and tailored treatments.

Telehealth in Endocrinology
Dr. Spyridoula Maraka, Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Director of the Endocrinology Fellowship, has been appointed to a working group of the Endocrine Society that will develop a consensus statement on the appropriate use of telehealth in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is the world’s largest and most respected scientific and professional organization in the field. Dr. Maraka, who is internationally recognized for her expertise, will be a strong asset for this initiative.

ACEP Honors Resident, Student
Congratulations to Emergency Medicine Chief Resident Dr. Michael Hobensack and fourth-year medical student Morgan Sweere-Treece on their recent honors from the Arkansas chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). Dr. Hobensack received the inaugural Resident of the Year Award for his clinical excellence and service in multiple leadership roles during residency, including as the Arkansas ACEP resident representative. Morgan received the inaugural Medical Student of the Year Award for her strong track record of involvement and leadership in the UAMS Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG). Under her leadership, the chapter recently received an award from the national Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association.

Women in Neurosurgery
A shout-out to fourth-year Neurosurgery resident Dr. Natalie Guley, who did a great job presenting at the recent annual meeting of the Neurosurgical Society of India. In a forum focusing on issues relating to women in neurosurgery, Dr. Guley discussed her experiences as a female neurosurgery resident along with relevant issues in the United States. The organizing team praised Dr. Guley for her contributions to the forum.

Insights into Heart Disease
Dr. J.L. Mehta, Distinguished Professor of Internal Medicine, Physiology and Cell Biology, and Pharmacology and Toxicology, has authored a new book, “Heart Disease: It is All in Your Head.” The book shares Dr. Mehta’s insights into the causes of heart disease based on his personal life experiences, 45 years in clinical practice and academic medicine, and extensive research. Dr. Mehta, who holds the Stebbins Chair in Cardiology, also explores the impacts of the brain and the immune system in regulating cardiovascular function and disease. Congratulations, Dr. Mehta.

Four UAMS College of Medicine Faculty Members Promoted to Distinguished Professor

Four leaders in research and education in the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have been promoted to the esteemed faculty rank of Distinguished Professor by the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees.

Promotion to Distinguished Professor is a special distinction reserved for faculty members who are recognized nationally or internationally as intellectual leaders in their academic disciplines with exceptional accomplishments in research, teaching, scholarly publications and other work. Promotion to the rank requires endorsement from the respective department, college and UA campus leadership as well as the Board of Trustees.

At its Nov. 17-18 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved promotion to Distinguished Professor rank for:

Gwen V. Childs, Ph.D., who has served as chair of the Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences since 2000 and is internationally recognized for her work in endocrine and pituitary gland regulation and cytophysiology.

Lawrence E. Cornett, Ph.D., who has advanced the research enterprise at UAMS and in Arkansas through numerous leadership roles during his 41 years on the faculty and continues to serve in the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology.

Fred W. Prior, Ph.D., who has chaired the Department of Biomedical Informatics since 2015 and is internationally recognized for his expertise in cancer imaging, including his leadership in the development of a National Cancer Institute-funded public database.

Nancy J. Rusch, Ph.D., who has chaired the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology since 2005 and has served as the college’s executive associate dean for research since January 2021, in addition to leading many scientific training initiatives.

“We are exceptionally fortunate to have these leaders on our faculty,” said Susan S. Smyth, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice chancellor of UAMS and dean of the College of Medicine. “Dr. Childs, Dr. Cornett, Dr. Prior and Dr. Rusch hail from different fields of biomedical research and education, but they all share a strong commitment to rigorous, high-quality science and ensuring the best possible training for the next generation of physicians and researchers.”

Gwen V. Childs, Ph.D., has served as chair of the Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences since 2000 and is internationally recognized for her work in endocrine and pituitary gland regulation and cytophysiology.

As Chair of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, Childs provides leadership for faculty members who, in addition to their own research, are integral to pre-clinical education for new medical students. She has been a strong advocate for medical education throughout her career and is known as well for her mentorship of both colleagues and learners and for being a role model for women in science.

In 2019, Childs received the highest honor from the national Histochemical Society, the Gomori Award, for her pioneering research in the field of immunohistochemistry. Her early work included development of histochemical and immunohistochemical approaches to learn more about multipotential pituitary cells. Recent studies have focused on how the metabolome communicates with pituitary cells. Childs has been continuously funded since 1974 and has published extensively in scientific journals and textbooks.

Dr. Larry Cornett — Lawrence E. Cornett, Ph.D., has advanced the research enterprise at UAMS and in Arkansas through numerous leadership roles during his 41 years on the faculty and continues to serve in the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology.

Cornett’s UAMS leadership positions have included executive associate dean for research in the College of Medicine in 2007-2013, UAMS vice chancellor for research in 2007-2018, and other roles that have strengthened research programs, services and funding at UAMS. He served as executive director of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute in 2003-2007. National leadership roles have included serving on the Association of American Medical Colleges GRAND Steering Committee in 2016-2021, including a one-year term as chair, and chairing the EPSCoR/IDeA Foundation Board in 2017-2021.

For the past 20 years, Cornett has been the principal investigator and director of Arkansas INBRE (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence). The program has received $78.5 million from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, to date, to promote and support mentorship-focused biomedical research for undergraduate college students and faculty across the state.

Dr. Fred Prior — Fred W. Prior, Ph.D., has chaired the Department of Biomedical Informatics since 2015 and is internationally recognized for his expertise in cancer imaging, including his leadership in the development of a National Cancer Institute-funded public database.

Prior has exponentially grown UAMS’ biomedical informatics capabilities, research and educational programs since his recruitment in 2015. In addition to chairing the Department of Biomedical Informatics, he is director of the biomedical informatics core of the UAMS Translational Research Institute and leads multiple federally funded projects. Prior has served on grant review panels for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Veterans Administration and the National Science Foundation for over 25 years.

Prior is principal investigator of The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA), an NCI-funded national public database for images relating to cancer that was launched in 2011 while he was on the faculty of Washington University in St. Louis. The TCIA transferred to UAMS with Prior’s recruitment, Earlier this year, it was cited as a prime example of a High-Value Data Asset for national research by a NIH working group.

Dr. Nancy Rusch — Nancy J. Rusch, Ph.D., has chaired the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology since 2005 and has served as the college’s executive associate dean for research since January 2021, in addition to leading many scientific training initiatives.

As chair of Pharmacology and Toxicology for 16 years, Rusch has overseen growth in key research areas and the development of nationally recognized researchers and educators. She is also a leader in the UAMS Translational Research Institute, where she developed and co-leads TRI’s Health Sciences Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HSIE) Postdoctoral Scholars Training Program and directs new program initiatives in TRI’s Translational Workforce Development. She is a leading expert in vascular ion channel remodeling in hypertension.

Following her appointment as executive associate dean for research, she oversaw the launch of 1-2-3 GO, a new grant program for research teams from multiple departments and colleges. Among many initiatives, she is currently working to further identify research strengths and innovative collaborations in the college to help guide research investments that will help achieve UAMS’ “Vision 2029” strategic plan for improving health in Arkansas.