Here are this week’s Accolades, a roundup of some of the honors and accomplishments of College of Medicine and UAMS faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students I’ve heard about recently!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are this week’s Accolades, a roundup of some of the honors and accomplishments of College of Medicine and UAMS faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students I’ve heard about recently!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are this week’s Accolades, a roundup of some of the honors and accomplishments of College of Medicine and UAMS faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students I’ve heard about recently!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are this week’s Accolades, a roundup of some of the honors and accomplishments of College of Medicine and UAMS faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students I’ve heard about recently!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are this week’s Accolades, a roundup of some of the honors and accomplishments of College of Medicine and UAMS faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students I’ve heard about recently!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are this week’s Accolades, a roundup of some of the honors and accomplishments of College of Medicine and UAMS faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students I’ve heard about recently!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Opening a Path
Congratulations to Dr. José R. Romero, Professor of Pediatrics and Arkansas Secretary of Health, on his latest international honor, the Ohtli Award from the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs. It is the highest award given to persons residing outside of Mexico. The name of the award comes from the Nahuatl word meaning “path,” alluding to the idea of opening a path for others. What an incredible and well-earned honor for Dr. Romero, who has provided stellar leadership during the pandemic through his recently completed term as Chair of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices as well as his ongoing leadership in Arkansas. The Ohtli Award honors individuals for aiding, empowering and positively affecting the lives of Mexican nationals in the United States and other countries. Thank you, Dr. Romero, for serving as a role model and ally for all.

(You can watch a video of the award ceremony, which was held at the Arkansas Department of Health yesterday, here.)

Chancellor’s Circle Grants
Congratulations to this year’s Chancellor’s Circle grant recipients. Twelve grants totaling $241,620 were awarded to support education, research and patient care initiatives across the state. Among them were $50,000 to the Office of Interprofessional Education to support the Culinary Medicine Program’s “We AR Cooking for a Healthier UAMS” initiative; $30,000 to Translational Research Institute and the Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to expand a program providing mini grants for research by underrepresented faculty members; and $25,000 for a Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute initiative to expand lung cancer screening to include less-invasive liquid biopsies and help identify at-risk populations. Read about all of the innovative projects initiated by College of Medicine and UAMS team members in the UAMS Newsroom.

High-Risk Pregnancy Care in NWA
Kudos to our Obstetrics and Gynecology team members who worked very hard for the past two years to develop a new clinical collaboration with Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville. The team conducted its first Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic at Washington Regional earlier this month. The initiative will enable many women with high-risk pregnancies to receive the best possible care closer to home in Northwest Arkansas. Special thanks to Dr. Nirvana Manning, OB/GYN Chair and Women and Infants Health Service Line Director, and Dr. Adam Sandlin, Associate Professor, for their leadership on this very well received initiative.

AOA Fellowship Award
Radiation Oncology resident Dr. Arpan Prabhu is one of only 10 residents and fellows nationwide to receive an Alpha Omega Alpha Postgraduate Fellowship Award this year. Dr. Prabhu will use the award from the national medical honor society to further his research into the use of virtual reality technology to improve the patient experience and quality of care during brachytherapy. Dr. Prabhu’s mentor is Assistant Professor Dr. Gary Lewis. He was nominated by Dr. Molly Gathright, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and AOA Councilor, along with the Arkansas AOA Chapter. Click here to learn more about Dr. Prabhu and his dedication to research on health literacy and patient education. Congratulations Dr. Prabhu!

Group of the Year
A round of applause for the UAMS Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG), which has been named EMIG of the Year by the Emergency Medicine Residents Association. The national award recognizes the accomplishments of the most productive EMIGs and the student leaders who make a wide range of learning and networking opportunities possible for fellow students. 2020-2021 Academic Year Co-Presidents Dr. Paige Dailey, who is now a first-year Emergency Medicine resident, and Morgan Sweere, who is now a senior medical student, were a driving force behind many of the activities that resulted in the national honor. Read more about this amazing group in the UAMS Newsroom.

World Expert
A shout-out to Dr. Gerald Dienel, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Neurology, who has been designated as a world expert in the area of astrocytes by Expertscape. The online science and medicine-focused resource calculates expertise from publications in the scientific literature. Dr. Dienel is ranked No. 23, or in the top 0.034%, among 67,804 published authors worldwide on astrocytes, the most numerous cells in the central nervous system. The ranking is based on his contributions to 22 articles on the topic over the past 10 years. Many will enjoy this 2019 UAMS news feature on Dr. Dienel’s continuing post-retirement scientific contributions.

Six-Year Streak
The hard work of residents and the dedication of our faculty members to their success have led to great outcomes in many programs across the College of Medicine. Under the leadership of Program Director Dr. Rani Lindberg, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency graduates have achieved a 100% pass rate for first-time takers of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Part 1 board examination since 2016. Congratulations to our recent PM&R graduates and the faculty colleagues who made this excellent track record possible.

Putting Patients First
A patient of Dr. Bruno Machado, Assistant Professor of Urology, recently wrote to Chancellor Cam Patterson to praise Dr. Machado and the staff of the UAMS Urology Clinic. “I have never been treated with such professional respect, taking an inordinate amount of time and explaining everything in great detail, as I did with Dr. Machado,” the patient wrote to Dr. Patterson. “He was kind and patient with my wife and me. Hats off to him and his staff. We are blessed to have him working in the state of Arkansas.” Thanks to Dr. Machado and the Urology Clinic team for putting patients first!

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 Gift of Serenity
The generosity of our research community and others across the COM and beyond has resulted in an oasis for front-line clinical team members at UAMS – a “Rejuvenation Room” that offers respite from the difficult and stressful work of caring for COVID-19 and other patients. I mentioned last month that the fundraising drive spearheaded by our basic science chairs raised more than $5,000 in the first day. In two short weeks, contributions from the COM reached $12,050, and a $10,000 gift from a private donor brought the total for furnishing the room to $22,050. Learn more about the sights, sounds and amenities of this amazing space, as well as the fundraising effort, in the UAMS Newsroom. So proud of our COM Team!

Another Record Year
The Solid Organ Transplant Program has achieved another record year in terms of volume and, most importantly, some of the best outcomes for kidney and liver transplant patients in the country. Dr. Lyle Burdine, Assistant Professor of Surgery and Solid Organ Transplant Surgical Director, did a fantastic job last week highlighting the program and outcomes for the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. “These results are indicative of the overall care patients receive at UAMS and, as these patients depend on all of the care teams at UAMS for successful outcomes, we greatly appreciate everyone’s efforts in this ongoing endeavor,” Dr. Burdine said. I couldn’t agree more!

National Appointment
Congratulations to Dr. Ahmed Abuabdou, Associate Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine and Associate Chief Medical Officer for UAMS Medical Center, on his election as the next Vice President-Operations for the American College of Physician Advisors (ACPA). His term will start in January. At UAMS, Dr. Abuabdou’s roles include leading the Physician Advisory Program, serving as Physician Champion for the Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) Program, and serving as Editor of the UAMS CDI newsletter Concise is Nice, which provides clinical documentation guidance for faculty, residents and fellows. Dr. Abuabdou is also an active member of the CDI Education Committee for the ACPA.

100% Pass Rate
I am delighted to share another example of the excellence of our residency and fellowship training programs with you this week. This year’s graduates of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program, led by Dr. Amy Phillips, had a 100% pass rate on the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology Qualifying Exam, leading to six straight years of 100% passage. Kudos to Dr. Phillips, and I join with her in thanking all of the outstanding faculty members who made this possible and congratulating the hard-working residents, past and present, who put so much work into preparing for this exam.

Ten for the Team
A team of UAMS cardiologists has published its 10th paper on fractional flow reserve based on data from Arkansas patients. The current paper, “Exhaustion of coronary vasodilatory reserve in the resting state: Clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes after intervention,” was produced by a group including Drs. Srikanth Vallurupalli, Shivkumar Agarwal and Malek Al-Hawwas and led by Dr. Barry Uretsky, Chief of Cardiology at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. “This high quality research has impacted clinical care and is widely cited in national and international practice guidelines,” said lead author and Cardiology Fellowship Director Dr. Vallurupalli. “Additionally, as an educator, it gives me great pleasure that cardiology fellows over the past six years have played a significant role in both research and the writing phase of all 10 of these papers.”

Compassionate Conversation
The terrible toll of COVID-19 and barrage of disinformation about so-called alternative therapies has led to heartbreaking situations for patients and families as well as extremely difficult situations for UAMS team members striving to provide the best possible care. Ethics Consultation Service members Dr. Jamie Watson and Dr. Laura Guidry-Grimes were working with colleagues from multiple disciplines on one such case and were struck by the thoughtful and especially helpful work of Dr. Mitchell Jenkins, Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases. As the Medical Humanities and Bioethics colleagues noted, Dr. Jenkins made a difference through his compassionate conversation with a family member and the careful documentation he shared with others involved. Hats off to Dr. Jenkins, Dr. Watson and Dr. Guidry-Grimes, and to all of our team members working so hard in these difficult circumstances.

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

Hope for COVID Long-Haulers
A UAMS research team published an important new study in PLOS ONE that sheds light on a potential cause of “long COVID” – an antibody that attacks the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Dr. John Arthur, Professor and Chief of the Division of Nephrology, led the team, which was coordinated by the Translational Research Institute. The researchers tested hypotheses proposed by Dr. Terry Harville, Professor of Pathology and Internal Medicine and Medical Director of the Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratories. The Department of Microbiology and Immunology’s Drs. Karl Boehme, Craig Forrest and Shana Owens developed the assay used in the project. Other contributors were Dr. Christian Herzog (Internal Medicine), Dr. Josh Kennedy (Pediatrics) and Dr. Juan Liu (Pathology). Read more in the UAMS Newsroom. Congratulations to all on this excellent and important research.

Medical Justice Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr. Ramona Rhodes, Associate Professor of Geriatrics, on being selected for the American Medical Association/Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine’s Medical Justice in Advocacy Fellowship. Dr. Rhodes, who also serves as Associate Director for Health Services Research in the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, will be in the inaugural cohort for the first-of-its kind postdoctoral fellowship. The aim is to enhance physicians’ advocacy leadership skills with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes and advancing health equity in the areas where the fellows serve – a commitment Dr. Rhodes has already demonstrated through national and local leadership roles.

Multi-Specialty Learning
Residents in General Surgery, Urology and Obstetrics and Gynecology will greatly benefit from the new multi-specialty robotic surgery curriculum that uniquely allows participants in the three surgical specialties to learn from one another. The curriculum got off to a great start with a two-day immersive experience in the UAMS Centers for Simulation Education. Kudos to the outstanding educational team led by robotics-trained faculty members Drs. Conan Mustain, Luann Racher, Theresa McCallie, Kimberly Jackman, Katy Marino and Tim Langford, and surgical simulation and education expert Dr. Karen Dickinson. Thanks also to Travis Hill, M.Ed., and the team in the Centers for Simulation Education for all of their hard work to plan and stage the technology-focused workshop. Read more in the UAMS Newsroom.

GME Excellence
I am so proud of the quality of our residency and fellowship training programs and am always delighted to hear about the results of this excellence. This week I learned that 100% of the graduates in our Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Residency Program since 2009 have achieved board certification on their first attempt. Special thanks to Dr. Abby Nolder for her outstanding leadership as Program Director since 2016.  

A shout-out as well to our third-year Cardiology fellows on passing the National Board of Echocardiography Exam and helping the program achieve a 100% pass rate for the fifth year in a row. Congratulations to fellows Drs. Danish Abbasi, Mahesh Bavineni, Shravan Turaga and Jack Xu, and kudos to Cardiovascular Fellowship Program Director Dr. Srikanth Vallurupalli and all of the faculty members who help to train fellows in this vital diagnostic procedure.

Insights into Methylene Blue
The Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine’s Dr. Renita Pushparajah Mak and Dr. Erica Liebelt recently published a continuing medical education (CME) review article, “Methylene Blue: An Antidote for Methemoglobinemia and Beyond,” in the journal Pediatric Emergency Care. The article discusses the medication best known as an antidotal treatment for acquired methemoglobinemia, a dangerous disorder in which the blood loses the ability to carry oxygen due to exposure to certain medications, chemicals or toxins. Dr. Pushparajah Mak recently joined Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Liebelt also joined the department this year as Professor and Medical and Research Director of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology as well as Associate Medical Director of the Arkansas Poison Drug and Information Center in the College of Pharmacy.

Safety Milestone
Kudos to Dr. Sara Peeples, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Director of the UAMS Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and the entire NICU team for their dedication to safety, quality and excellent care. Most recently, the NICU team surpassed 100 days without a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI). Great job!

Champions of Diversity & Service
Congratulations to the winners of the Dr. Edith Irby Jones Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Awards, including Lifetime Achievement honoree Dr. Sheldon Riklon. Dr. Riklon, an Associate Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, provides compassionate and culturally appropriate care for members of the Marshallese community, as well as dedicated and effective advocacy.

Other UAMS team members receiving Diversity and Inclusion Awards at the annual State of Diversity and Inclusion Address were: Student – doctoral candidate Lorraine Stigar, M.P.H.; Staff – Renisha Ward, M.Ed.; Early Career Faculty – Dr. Clare Brown; Mid/Senior Career Faculty – Dr. Kalpana Padala; and Trainee – Dr. Michael Grassi. UAMS Serves Award recipients also were honored during the event for their outstanding volunteerism: Mariella Hernandez, M.P.S., Rose Farquhar, LSW, Stacy Hoyle, MHSA, and the UAMS Auxiliary. Many other COM and UAMS team members earned nominations for these awards. Congratulations to all.

Putting Patients First
An Internal Medicine Clinic patient who was recently diagnosed with cancer had one less thing to worry about thanks to social worker Rose Farquhar. The patient had financial difficulties and was unable to find transportation to his frequent appointments. Rose went out of her way on a Friday afternoon to coordinate a ride with her own money so the patient wouldn’t miss a crucial oncology appointment. Third-year resident Dr. Connor Rayburn wrote to tell me about this “awesome example of real servitude when it matters most.” This is far from the first time Rose has been noticed for her generous spirit. In April, she was UAMS MVP of the Month; in May she received the Helen May Compassionate Care Award; and, as noted in the accolade above, she just received the UAMS Serves Award. Thank you, Rose, for always putting patients first.

Here are this week’s Accolades, a roundup of some of the honors and accomplishments of College of Medicine and UAMS faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students I’ve heard about recently!

National Humanism Award
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has selected Dr. Gloria Richard-Davis to receive the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award for Practicing Physicians. Dr. Richard-Davis, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Executive Director of the UAMS Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, is being honored for demonstrating the ideals of compassionate and respectful care. She will be recognized during the ASRM President’s Gala in October for serving as a “superlative role model” for a generation of residents and fellows, as well as for her scientific efforts relating to menopause, fibroids and health disparities. In a letter to Dr. Richard-Davis, ASRM President Dr. Hugh Taylor said, “Your efforts to support and raise the level of care for the underrepresented and disadvantaged have been a wonderful example for all of us.” Here at UAMS, we couldn’t agree more!

Stewarding Scholarships
A $1 million gift from the Ethel Brickey Hicks Charitable Corporation is the latest example of the impact of Assistant Dean for Admissions Tom South’s excellent stewardship of our scholarship programs for more than 35 years. The corporation credits Tom for ensuring the success of previous scholarships, loans and loan-forgiveness opportunities stemming from the legacy of the late philanthropist from Knox County, Tennessee. Over the past 27 years, the Ethel Brickey Hicks Trust has awarded more than $1.7 million to UAMS medical students who aspire to practice medicine in rural Arkansas. “We often thought of making gifts to students outside of Arkansas but did not because Tom made it so much easier for us to continue with our program at UAMS,” trustee Janet Moore says in a UAMS news release. Thank you, Tom.

Leading the Way in Psychiatric Training
The Baptist Health-UAMS Psychiatry Residency Program will begin training its first residents next July, helping to ensure outstanding mental health care for Arkansans in the decades ahead. The ongoing pandemic will impact the mental health of Arkansans long into the future, making this new training program even more important for our state. The program, which received initial accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) earlier this year, will be in great hands under the leadership of Dr. Prasad Padala, Professor of Psychiatry, who has accepted appointment as Program Director. Dr. Padala currently serves as Associate Director for Clinical Innovations for the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System’s Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center and has been a part of PRI’s Center for Health Services Research since 2015.   

91 Days of Writing Excellence
I had the pleasure last week of joining in the Translational Research Institute’s celebration of the researchers who participated in the first 91-Day Writing Challenge, which generated an incredible 173 manuscript submissions. Dr. Don Willis, an Assistant Professor in the Office of Community Health and Research at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus, led in the number of submissions with 10, earning him the Astounding Apprentice Award. Indeed, four of the seven writing challenge winners are based in that office, which is led by Dr. Pearl McElfish, the honoree for Best Representation of Team Science. Other winners from across campus included Drs. Jennifer Andersen, Nahed El-Hassan, Holly Felix, Nishank Jain, Sara Landes and Jennifer Vincenzo. Read more in the TRI Newsroom. 

Leading by Example
The team members “behind the scenes” of our work in education, research and patient care are crucial to our ability to carry out our mission. I received appreciative words about one of these heroes, Brian Carpenter, MBA, from Dr. Karen Farst, Chief of the Children at Risk Section in the Department of Pediatrics. As Practice Director for Behavioral Health Services in the department, Brian has shouldered an enormous load as multiple sections have transitioned to EPIC, experienced significant staff turnover, and dealt with staffing issues related to COVID-19. “He is not in a position where the spotlight would ever really shine on him, nor would he seek that out,” Dr. Farst wrote of Brian. “He leads by example with integrity, compassion and always finding ways to encourage those around him.” Kudos, Brian, for all you do!

In the Spotlight
The Department of Emergency Medicine’s efforts to promote and offer COVID-19 vaccinations in the Emergency Department with the aid of medical and pharmacy student volunteers was in the spotlight last week thanks to a KTHV news broadcast. Associate Professor Dr. Carly Eastin and second-year medical students Luke Lefler and Kikko Haydar did a great job sharing information about the initiative for viewers. Check out the KTHV broadcast here, and read more about the efforts of Dr. Carly Eastin and colleague and husband Dr. Travis Eastin to develop the outreach and educational opportunity in the UAMS Newsroom.

What is the Alfieri Stitch?
“What is the Alfieri Stitch?” and “What is 5 mm?” were the final answers – or rather, questions – in the “Jeopardy!” quiz show-inspired competition hosted by our Cardiology Chief Fellows last week. It was great fun watching the action as Cardiology fellows, faculty and APRNs from UAMS and the VA competed in the educational and team-building experience. Special thanks to the Chief Fellows, Dr. Shravan Turaga and Dr. Mahesh Bavineni, for doing such a great job on the event. The Round 1 winning team was Dr. Gaurav Dhar (Professor), Dr. Danish Abbasi (third-year fellow), Dr. Kirby Von Edwins (first-year fellow), and Jenna Valovich, APRN. The Round 2 winning team was Dr. Barry Uretsky (Professor), Dr. Sanjay Shah (Assistant Professor) and Dr. Dinesh Voruganti (second-year fellow). Congratulations!

Kindness in Action
When second-year Radiology resident Dr. Anas Attasi recently encountered a haggard-looking older gentleman in the hospital lobby asking for money, he didn’t look the other way. He stopped to help. Dr. Atassi took the man to the Lobby Café and bought him a sandwich and a drink. This simple gesture, noticed by a colleague, reflects the kindness and compassion Dr. Atassi is known for. Kudos, Dr. Atassi.