Each year, students in all four classes in the UAMS College of Medicine vote for the faculty members they consider to be the most outstanding educators. The honorees are recognized during the college’s Honors Convocation ceremony on the eve of UAMS Commencement.

Red Sash winners in attendance at the May 19, 2023 ceremony were entitled to wear red sashes over their regalia robes. These honorees were named by students as outstanding teachers. Gold Sash honorees are the faculty members who received the highest number of votes by students across all four classes. The person voted by each class as the best teacher of the year receives the prestigious Golden Apple Award. In the list below, the Gold Sash and Golden Apple Honorees are noted and in bold type. The others are Red Sash winners. All faculty are listed in their primary department.

Read more about this year’s Golden Apple recipients.

Congratulations to all of these exemplary College of Medicine faculty members!

Anesthesiology

Shannon Dare, M.D.
Riley Lide, M.D.
Jill Mhyre, M.D.
G. Lawson Smith, M.D.
Matthew Spond, M.D.
Kyle Stoner, M.D.
Sushma Thapa, M.D.

Biochemistry/Molecular Biology

Giulia Baldini, M.D., Ph.D.
Alan Diekman, Ph.D.  Gold Sash, Freshman Golden Apple
Samantha Kendrick, Ph.D.

Dermatology

Megan Evans, M.D.
Thomas Jennings, M.D., Ph.D.
Sara Shalin, M.D., Ph.D.
Henry Wong, M.D., Ph.D.

Emergency Medicine

Meryll Bouldin, M.D.
Carly Eastin, M.D.
Lauren Evans, M.D.
Rachael Freeze-Ramsey, M.D.

Family/Preventive Medicine

Scott Dickson, M.D.
Michael Gann, M.D.
Stephen King, M.D.
Sharon Reece, M.D.
Julia Rouiler, M.D.
Leslie Stone, M.D., MPH
Patrick Sullins, M.D.
William Ventres, M.D., M.A.
Jordan Weaver, M.D.

Internal Medicine

Alice Alexander, M.D.
Ahmed Abuabdou, M.D.
Ramez Awad, M.D.
Robert Bradsher, M.D.
Jose Caceres, M.D.
Sheena CarlLee, M.D.
Ryan Dare, M.D.
Steven Deas, M.D.
Katie DeFore, M.D.
Matthew Deneke, M.D.
Harmeen Goraya, M.D.
Nick Gowen, M.D.  Gold Sash, Junior Golden Apple
Yusef Hassan, M.D.
Robert Hopkins, M.D.
Sumant Inamdar, M.D.
Krishna Kakkera, M.D.
Robert Lavender, M.D.
Riley Lipschitz, M.D.
Michael Lowry, M.D.
Caroline Miles, M.D.
Hakan Paydak, M.D.  Gold Sash
Juan Carlos Rico, M.D.
Michael Saccente, M.D.
A. Mazin Safar, M.D.
Kristen Shealy, M.D.
Manisha Singh, M.D.
Kalaivani Sivakumar, M.D.
Ples Spradley, M.D.
Sara Tariq, M.D.
Ramakrishna Thotakura, M.D.
Tobias Vancil, M.D.
Taylor Washburn, M.D.

Microbiology/Immunology

Karl Boehme, Ph.D.

Neurobiology/Developmental Sciences

Noor Akhter, Ph.D.
David Davies, Ph.D.  Gold Sash
Kevin Phelan, Ph.D.

Neurology

Lee Archer, M.D.
Tarek Bakdash, M.D.
Dale Carter, M.D.
Rohit Dhall, M.D., MSPH
Neil Masangkay, M.D.
Walter Metzer, M.D.
Hillary Williams, M.D.

Obstetrics/Gynecology

Melissa Helmich, M.D.
Laura Hollenbach, M.D.
Renee McGraw, M.D.
Luann Racher, M.D.
Maria Ruiz, D.O.
Dora Smith, M.D.
Kate Stambough, M.D.
Lindsey Sward, M.D.  Gold Sash, Senior Golden Apple

Ophthalmology

Paul Phillips, M.D.

Otolaryngology-Head/Neck Surgery

Ozlem Tulunay-Ugur, M.D.

Orthopaedic Surgery

Robert Martin, M.D.
Simon Mears, M.D., Ph.D.

Pathology

Jennifer Forsyth, M.D.
Murat Gokden, M.D.
Susanne Jeffus, M.D.
Vijay Patel, M.D.
Charles Matthew Quick, M.D.
Nicholas Zoumberos, M.D.

Pediatrics

Megan Baber, D.O.
Elijah Bolin, M.D.
Carla Brown, M.D.
Joshua Dailey, M.D.
Rachel Ekdahl, M.D.
Jacob Filipek, M.D.
Stacie Jones, M.D.
Rebecca Latch, M.D.
Joana Mack, M.D.
Safia Nawaz, M.D.
Steven McKee, M.D.  Gold Sash
Cindy Nguyen, M.D.
Robbie Pesek, M.D.
Amna Qasim, M.D.
Angela Scott, M.D., Ph.D.  Gold Sash
Amy Scurlock, M.D.
Maxwell Taylor, M.D.
Julie Tate, M.D.
Tara Venable, M.D.
Gwenevere White, M.D.
Dustin Williford, M.D.

Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation

Tory Hunton, M.D.

Physiology/Cell Biology

Michael Jennings, Ph.D.
Jerry Ware, Ph.D.

Psychiatry

Jessica Coker, M.D.  Gold Sash
Margaret Ege-Woolley
Amy Grooms, M.D.
Lewis Krain, M.D.
Michelle Ransom, M.D.
John Spollen, M.D.
Lindsey Wilbanks, M.D.

Radiology

Sateesh Jayappa, M.D.
Ruizong Li, M.D.

Surgery

Avi Bhavaraju, M.D.
Nolan Bruce, M.D.
Emmanouil Giorgakis, M.D.
Hanna Jensen, M.D., Ph.D.  Gold Sash, Sophomore Golden Apple
Eveline Klenotic, M.D.
Melissa Kost, M.D.
Joe Margolick, M.D.
Jason Mizell, M.D.
Conan Mustain, M.D.
Anna Privratsky, D.O.
Matthew Roberts, M.D.
Kevin Sexton, M.D.
Christian Simmons, M.D., Ph.D.
Rachel Slotcavage, M.D.
Matthew Steliga, M.D.
Keith Wolter, M.D., Ph.D.
Deidre Wyrick, M.D.
James Yuen, M.D.

Urology

Timothy Langford, M.D.
Michail Mavros, M.D.
Julie Riley, M.D.

The UAMS College of Medicine is proud to honor the recipients of the 2023 Dean’s Honor Day Awards. The outstanding team members highlighted on this page were recognized in an April 25 ceremony in the Fred Smith Auditorium on the UAMS campus.

Capping the ceremony was the presentation of the Distinguished Faculty Service Award to David L. Davies, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences who has served on the faculty for 38 years and continues to lead key educational activities for the college. The award is just the latest for Dr. Davies, who has been long recognized as an exceptional educator.

Read more about Dr. Davies and the ceremony overall in the 2023 Dean’s Honor Day main feature story. (Link coming soon!)

Watch the video recording of the ceremony here.

View the video tribute to faculty being promoted to associate professor.
View the video tribute to faculty being promoted to professor or distinguished professor, and new emeritus faculty.

See a list of the 2023 promotion & tenure honorees.

Congratulations to the following 2023 award winners!

Staff Excellence Awards

Staff Excellence Award – Education
Kelly Hamman, LCSW
Trauma Treatment Training Specialist
Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma (ARBEST)
Department of Psychiatry

Kelly Hamman, LCSW, has dedicated her career to serving and advocating for some of the most vulnerable Arkansans as a trainer with Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma (ARBEST) in the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute.

ARBEST develops and carries out initiatives in clinical care, training, advocacy and evaluation to improve mental health outcomes for children who have experienced trauma. Hamman is integral in disseminating evidence-based treatments to clinicians throughout the state. She also teaches community volunteers how to facilitate a specialized parenting curriculum developed by ARBEST called Managing Youth Trauma Effectively. After training, these volunteers provide education and support for parents, many of whom are waiting to be able to reunite with their children.

In her nomination letter, Lindsey Roberts, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry, shared some of the praise Hamman has received. “Kelly holds the best interests of children and families in mind all the time, so it is not surprising that she goes above and beyond to ensure their needs are met,” said a colleague. “When she’s not thinking about children or families, she’s thinking about the best interests of the ARBEST team or ways to include the voices and perspectives of those whose voices have traditionally been left out of discussions around mental health.”

Staff Excellence Award – Research
Angela Kyzer, B.A.
Program Manager, Research and Evaluation Division
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

Angela Kyzer, B.A., has provided stellar support for researchers in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine for 19 years. She currently serves as the program manager for multiple community-based intervention studies involving efforts to support young children’s social-emotional development, including interventions in early care and education settings.

“It immediately became clear that Angie has an outstanding work ethic, strong initiative, a desire to learn and grow, and an ability to work effectively and respectfully with a wide range of colleagues and study participants,” said Nikki Edge, Ph.D., professor and associate director of the Research and Evaluation (RED) Division. Edge nominated Kyzer on behalf of numerous faculty and staff as well as community and national partners.

Early in her career, Kyzer worked on a series of studies involving mothers in substance abuse treatment with their children. She went on to volunteer extensively in prevention efforts, serving for 14 years on the statewide Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Task Force.

“Angie regularly contributes to scholarly activity and has a growing national reputation,” Edge wrote in her nomination. A research colleague from Georgetown University was quoted, explaining that Kyzer “has been integral to the process of disseminating findings from UAMS early childhood research to the larger scholarly community.”

Staff Excellence Award – Administration
Mark Mosby, B.S.
Division Administrator, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Department of Internal Medicine

Mark Mosby, B.S., has served in administrative, research and regulatory-focused positions at UAMS for 24 years. As administrator for the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism since 2011, he is responsible for the daily administration of faculty and staff, management of division budgets that include seven National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, and more.

Nominators Elena Ambrogini, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor and division director, and Charles O’Brien, Ph.D., professor and director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Disease Research, said that among many accomplishments, Mosby was instrumental in the preparation of the center’s NIH Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant and subsequent renewal.

“In addition to these major efforts, Mr. Mosby is also an effective problem solver,” they wrote in their nomination. “He takes responsibility even for assignments that are not his formal duty. In doing so, he sets an outstanding example for his administrative team and the rest of us in the Division. In our collective more than 40 years of time at UAMS, we have not known or worked with any administrator with a greater level of dedication and effectiveness.”

“Mr. Mosby is an exceptional employee, who builds a climate of comradery, positivity and cooperation, while displaying genuine caring and respect for his coworkers.”

Residency Educator Awards

Residency Educator – Program Coordinator
Stephanie Veach, B.A.
Program Coordinator, Pediatric Fellowship Programs:
Hematology Oncology, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Child Abuse, Hospital Medicine

Stephanie Veach, B.A., makes life smoother for trainees and faculty alike in five pediatric fellowship programs, including Hematology-Oncology, where nominator Joanna Mack, M.D., said she is indispensable.

“I could not do my job as a physician and program director without her,” Mack, assistant professor and fellowship program director, wrote in Veach’s nomination letter. “She is my partner in providing the best experience for fellows in graduate medical education.”

“Stephanie has been instrumental to my success in my first year as a pediatric hematology-oncology fellow,” Paige Strebeck, M.D., wrote in a supporting letter. “She is a great communicator and constantly reminds me of deadlines knowing that I have a busy first-year schedule. She checks in with me frequently just to make sure I’m doing alright.”

Mack said Veach seamlessly coordinates applicant interviews for the fellowship programs, scheduling interviews with more than 30 faculty and current fellows and ensuring that more than 60 applicants feel welcome. She noted that Veach also has done outstanding work as Fellows Day coordinator for several years across pediatric fellowship programs. “She truly goes above and beyond what is in her job description to help make fellowship easier for all fellows.”

Residency Educator – Program Director
Mollie Meek, M.D.
Professor, Department of RadiologyDirector, Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency

Mollie Meek, M.D., has excelled in numerous educational and clinical leadership roles in the Department of Radiology, including Division Director of Interventional Radiology since 2012 and Program Director for the Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency since its inception in 2016.

Several residents wrote in support of Meek’s nomination, citing her dedication to helping the next generation of physicians grow and learn both personally and professionally.

“Dr. Meek is passionate about teaching residents and has a unique ability to make complex medical concepts easy to understand, while also challenging residents to think critically and develop their problem-solving skills,” the residents wrote. “She always welcomes students and residents to do simple and complex cases with her believing there is always something to learn.”

Arabinda Choudhary, M.D., MBA, professor and chair of the Department of Radiology, lauded Meek’s service as program director and more broadly, including her work as a member of the UAMS Graduate Medical Education Committee and her recent appointment to the national Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Radiology Review Committee.

Faculty Awards in Education, Research and Humanism

Master Teacher Award
Rosalia C.M. Simmen, Ph.D.
Professor and Co-Vice Chair of Education
Director, Graduate Program Cell Biology and Physiology Track
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology

Rosalia C.M. Simmen, Ph.D., is highly regarded for her commitment to educational excellence in the classroom and for providing outstanding mentorship for graduate and medical students as well as early career scientists in the fields of endocrinology, physiology, and cell and cancer biology.

“Dr. Simmen is a dedicated and inspiring educator who has demonstrated excellence in education during her 37 years as an academician, including 20 years at UAMS,” Teresita Bellido, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, said in her nomination letter. “Her educational contributions at UAMS exhibit a remarkable breadth, covering teaching in the classroom and in the laboratory, mentoring and leadership, and teaching administration.”

Simmen’s internationally recognized research group has made significant contributions to the understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying women’s reproductive health issues including infertility, endometriosis, endometrial cancer, abnormal labor and breast cancer. “Rosie’s passion for research mobilizes students in the classroom and the lab, and her research laboratory provides optimal teaching opportunities,” Bellido wrote.

Simmen has served as track director for the Cell Biology and Physiology track in the UAMS Graduate School’s Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences program since 2018. She has taught in the endocrine and reproduction module for second-year medical students since 2016, earning praise for her lectures and making complex information understandable.

Educational Innovation Award
Leslie Stone, M.D., MPH
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
William Ventres, M.D., M.A.
Associate Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

Family and Preventive Medicine colleagues Leslie Stone, M.D., MPH, and William Ventres, M.D., M.A., developed and implemented Philosophies of Family Medicine, an innovative and well-received curriculum for third-year medical students completing their clinical rotations in family medicine.

The curriculum highlights the important role of family medicine in the health care system, including the centrality of the bio-psycho-social model to family medicine, the therapeutic nature of the doctor-patient relationship, the importance of robust primary-care practice to health equity, and the necessity of working together in systems-based care. The “flipped curriculum” model of learning has students read key articles prior to each session, which has prompted lively discussions among students.

“It encourages student involvement in a supportive, engaging, and thoughtful manner around topics that are useful for student physicians entering any discipline,” wrote nominator Richard Turnage, M.D., interim chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and vice chancellor for UAMS Regional Campuses. Turnage noted that Stone, Ventres and colleagues recently published an article on the effectiveness of the curriculum in PRiMER (Peer-Reviewed Reports in Medical Education Research).

“The Philosophies of Family Medicine curriculum is a wonderful example of the creativeness and innovation I have come to know exists within family medicine,” Turnage wrote. “We should all learn from this curriculum and celebrate the efforts of Drs. Stone and Ventres.”

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
Presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation
Deidre Wyrick, M.D.Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Critical Care Medicine
Trauma Medical Director, Arkansas Children’s Hospital

Deidre Wyrick, M.D., is just a few years into her career as a faculty member, but the pediatric surgeon is proof that you do not need years of experience as faculty to be recognized as among the best. She proves that every day with the standard of care she provides.

“When it comes to compassionate patient care, I can honestly say that in my 22 years of clinical experience, I have yet to encounter someone better at the role than Dr. Wyrick,” Jennifer York, APRN, wrote in her nomination letter. “She is wise, considerate, kindhearted, and cares deeply for her patients and their families.”

Wyrick graduated from the College of Medicine in 2010 and stayed at UAMS for her general surgery residency and pediatric surgery fellowship. She continued her training with a surgical critical care fellowship at Oregon Health and Sciences University and was recruited to UAMS and Arkansas Children’s in 2020. Wyrick holds a number of leadership roles in pediatric trauma and surgical critical care. She is highly respected for her teaching and mentoring, as well as for providing exceptional patient- and family-centered care.

“She recognizes that trauma, surgical and critically ill patients have complex medical needs that can feel overwhelming to family members,” York wrote. “Dr. Wyrick has an innate ability to connect with patients and families in difficult situations.”

Excellence in Research Award
Paul Drew, Ph.D.
Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences
Professor and Director of Research, Department of NeurologyAssistant Dean for Research, College of Medicine

Paul Drew, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized neuroscientist who has contributed substantially to the research enterprise at UAMS for the past 26 years through scholarly work, teaching and mentoring, and numerous research leadership roles.

“Dr. Drew is a well-rounded researcher who attracts graduate students and collaborators and has established an outstanding record of publications and service to his field,” said nominator Gwen Childs, Ph.D., distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences. “He is both a leader in his field and has served us well as a leader in research on campus.”

Drew’s research has focused on neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases with a focus on multiple sclerosis (MS), alcohol use disorders (AUD) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Through seminal discoveries, his research team has significantly advanced the understanding of central nervous system cell population responses to alcohol exposure at all ages.

His work has been steadily funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation, and private funding agencies including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Rampy Foundation for MS Research. He frequently reviews grants for the NIH, the Department of Defense and the National MS Society.

As Assistant Dean for Research, Drew facilitates collaborative research initiatives across the College of Medicine. He co-leads a “creativity hub” focused on neurodegenerative disease research. He has served on numerous college and university committees.

Faculty Awards for Clinical Excellence

Outstanding Advanced Practice Provider
Jennifer York, APRN, MNsc, CPNP-AC
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Division of Pediatric Surgery and Trauma
Arkansas Children’s Hospital and UAMS

Jennifer York, APRN, is so highly respected and appreciated by clinical colleagues, learners and others at Arkansas Children’s that if you are walking through the hospital with her and are in a hurry, it might be difficult making your way to your destination with so many stopping for her advice.

“Amazingly, when she is stopped, she makes the person she is talking to feel like they are the most important thing she is doing at that moment,” Deidre Wyrick, M.D., wrote in her nomination of York. “While this might seem like ‘fluff,’ it is crucial to why she is such a great APRN. She has fostered this trust and respect from her colleagues because she is excellent.”

Wyrick said York provides outstanding patient- and family centered care, is a skilled communicator, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, and teaches across the spectrum of care providers. She has served as an APRN in Pediatric Surgery and Trauma for five years and previously held positions in other areas.

York currently serves on the APRN Council at Arkansas Children’s and has been recognized for her work through multiple honors. She is also active in the field at the national level, currently serving as Vice-Chair of the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Steering Committee of the Pediatric Trauma Society.

Excellence in Quality and Safety
Zachary Lewis, M.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Emergency Ultrasound
Department of Emergency Medicine

Zachary Lewis, M.D., is dedicated to ensuring the quality and safety of care for patients in the Emergency Department now and in the future through education, quality assurance activities and other measures.

“Since joining the faculty, he has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of education and clinical care regarding point-of-care ultrasound both within UAMS and throughout the emergency medicine community,” Jason Arthur, M.D., MPH, wrote in his nomination of Lewis. Lewis was the first fellow trained in emergency ultrasound at UAMS. He currently serves as co-director of Emergency Ultrasound Education, the Pediatric Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship, and the Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship.

Lewis has performed quality assurance on over 17,000 point-of-care ultrasounds at UAMS since joining the faculty in 2017. Lewis and colleagues in the Division of Emergency Ultrasound perform quality assurance on all ultrasound studies performed in the Emergency Department, to ensure excellent care, foster quality improvement, and add an additional layer of safety for patients. Lewis also has served on task forces to develop and implement multiple state-of-the-art applications of point-of-care ultrasound.

“Beyond ultrasound, Dr. Lewis has a passion for ensuring efficient and compassionate care,” Arthur said, noting his collaborations with others to make improvements in the electronic health record system that will increase clinical efficiency, safety and provider satisfaction.

Excellence in Service and Professionalism
Konstantinos Arnaoutakis, M.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology
Program Director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program
Department of Internal Medicine

Konstantinos Arnaoutakis, M.D., brings excellent clinical skills, leadership and a strong commitment to service to his work with patients, fellows and other learners in the Division of Hematology/Oncology.

Arnaoutakis joined the faculty in 2009. He served as associate program director for the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program from 2011 to January 2021, when he was named program director.

“Dr. Arnaoutakis has significantly contributed to the service and growth of our division,” Division Director Rang Govindarajan, M.D., said in his nomination letter. “He is a great teacher, very collegial, and liked by all his peers, nurses and patients.”

Govindarajan said Arnaoutakis provides excellent care for patients as well as outstanding consultation services for clinical colleagues. “He is compassionate and takes personal responsibility and pride in providing individual patient care, Govindarajan wrote. “I see him following through on his patients’ needs by staying late at work, and sometimes coming in very early in the mornings prior to inpatient rounds. His patients feel that Dr. Arnaoutakis treats them like a family member.”

“As Hematology/Oncology Program director, he does an excellent job managing and mentoring fellows,” Govindarajan said. “He is approachable and takes great care to guide them. Dr. Arnaoutakis is a great advocate for the fellows, residents and medical students.”

Best Consulting Physician
Samidha Tripathi, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Director, Consultation-Liaison Service
Psychiatric Research Institute

Samidha Tripathi, M.D., was formally appointed as director of the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service at UAMS last year in recognition of her outstanding collaborative work as a psychiatrist and consulting physician.

“Dr. Tripathi has skillfully demonstrated that building effective collaborative relationships across different groups can help address the mental health needs of Arkansans and help improve the quality of care delivered to our patients at UAMS,” Laura Dunn, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Psychiatric Research Institute, said in her nomination letter.

Consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry is a subspecialty of psychiatry that focuses on the care of patients with co-existing psychiatric and general medical conditions. The care of these patients can be complex, and C-L psychiatrists must work closely with clinicians across a wide range of primary and specialty care teams.

Dr. Tripathi has collaborated with other clinical teams to improve care and reduce boarding times of patients with mental health needs in the Emergency Department, and to implement a collaborative care model for improving access to mental health treatment for Arkansans at several primary care clinics. She continues to work in additional areas to further integrate mental health services.

Collaborations and Teamwork
Patient Care, Laboratory Diagnostic and Antimicrobial Stewardship Project Team
Eric R. Rosenbaum, M.D., MPH
Katherine T. Lusardi, Pharm.D., BCIDP
Ryan K. Dare, M.D.
Juan Carlos Rico, M.D.
Nicole M. Emery, M(ASCP)
Brett J. Bailey, Pharm.D.

In 2017, an interdisciplinary team of laboratory specialists, pharmacists and infectious disease experts came together to help address the medical, financial and public health burdens that bloodstream infections impose in hospitals such as UAMS.

Together, the team pioneered the introduction of a completely new type of laboratory diagnostic technology that has improved care of UAMS patients with life-threatening bloodstream infections. The work has subsequently received significant international attention for successfully demonstrating substantial downstream cost savings through the technology.

The project team includes Eric Rosenbaum, M.D., MPH, associate professor in the Department of Pathology and medical director of UAMS Clinical Microbiology; Division of Infectious Disease faculty members Ryan Dare, M.D., and Juan Carlos Rico, M.D.; Katherine Lusardi, Pharm. D. (UAMS Hospital Pharmacy); Nicole Emery, M(ASCP) (Pathology); and Brett Bailey, Pharm.D. (UAMS Clinical Informatics).

The team initially convened to evaluate newly available laboratory systems capable of rapidly identifying pathogens and determining the appropriate antibiotic treatment using blood samples collected from patients suspected of having serious bloodstream infections. After selecting the FDA-approved Accelerate Pheno^TM technology, the team tested and validated the system and introduced it for patient testing. The team continued to work together in the following years, analyzing and quantifying the positive impacts of the new system. The results have been highlighted in numerous journal articles and presentations at national and international conferences.

Rising Star Clinical Faculty
Joseph Henske, M.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Director, UAMS Diabetes Program
Department of Internal Medicine

Joseph Henske, M.D., has quickly garnered recognition as an outstanding, extremely dedicated and effective diabetes-focused clinician and educator who has made fundamental contributions to the UAMS mission.

“Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes himself at the age of 15, Dr. Henske has committed his life to helping others better manage their disease,” Elena Ambrogini, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, said in her nomination of Henske, who joined the faculty in 2019. “In his brief time here, Dr. Henske has greatly impacted the care of patients with diabetes in our institution as well as the state of Arkansas at large.”

“He always goes the extra mile and spends endless hours to identify the optimal and latest approach to treatment,” Ambrogini wrote. “He never gives up on anyone.”

Henske, director of the UAMS Diabetes Program, also has advocated publicly for the needs of patients with diabetes. His testimony and work with Arkansas legislators helped to secure the 2021 law mandating that the Arkansas Medicaid program cover a continuous glucose monitor for individuals with diabetes. At UAMS, he has been active in teaching and mentoring of students, residents and fellows, and has presented extensively on diabetes topics for colleagues in other specialties.

Physician of the Year
Thomas Kiser, M.D., MPH
Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Thomas Kiser, M.D., MPH, has dedicated his career to providing stellar care for Arkansans with spinal cord injuries and other conditions requiring highly specialized physical rehabilitation.

“Over the past 26-plus years, Dr. Kiser has distinguished himself locally and nationally as an outstanding clinician and teacher, Professor and Chair Kevin Means, M.D., wrote in his nomination. “He has demonstrated excellent leadership within our department, within the hospital where we at UAMS Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) primarily practice, the Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute (BHRI), within Arkansas, and within our specialty.”

“Dr. Kiser has demonstrated subspecialty knowledge, expertise, and substantial practice experience dedicated to the care of the most vulnerable, most complex, and most severely disabled subpopulations of persons requiring medical rehabilitation,” Means wrote.

Kiser received his medical degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia and came to UAMS for his internship and residency training in PM&R. In addition to his certification by the American Board of PM&R, he was among the first group of physiatrists nationally to earn additional certification in spinal cord injury medicine. He received a Master of Public Health from the Arkansas MPH Program and Tulane University in 2000.

Kiser has served as Medical Director of the Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission since 1998. He recently was appointed UAMS Musculoskeletal (MSK) Service Line medical director at BHRI. Previous leadership roles included three two-year terms as chief of staff at BHRI.

The College of Medicine has announced four inaugural “Creativity Hubs” to grow collaborative and thematic research programs with a boost of $300,000 in seed funding over the next 18 months. We invited the leaders of the four hubs to share their group’s strengths and goals, insights on collaboration and more through Q&A interviews conducted by email. For more information on this initiative, read the main story here. Congratulations to these hub leaders and their colleagues!

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Q&A with Creativity Hub Co-Leaders Steven Barger, Ph.D., and Paul Drew, Ph.D.

Please comment on being selected as a Creativity Hub.

Dr. Barger: The application I submitted was somewhat specific for brain disorders related to Alzheimer’s disease. The review panel supported combining that with a proposal by Dr. Drew to support research into a broader array of brain disorders. And I think that exemplifies the unifying nature of the Creativity Hub initiative – it is inclusive and collaborative. The projects I felt were important to support have objectives and needs that are shared with others in the College of Medicine that seek to understand the fundamental underpinnings of neurodegeneration.

Dr. Drew: It is a great honor to be selected as an inaugural Creativity Hub. I look forward to working with my friend and colleague Dr. Steve Barger to advance research at UAMS concerning neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.

Why is this hub’s focus of research so important?

Dr. Barger: “Neurodegeneration” is a term that is not widely known to the broader public, but it may be self-explanatory. This refers to disorders in which the brain or other parts of the nervous system are degraded over time, both in structure and function. Most of these diseases are progressive—once started, they continue to get worse over time. As one might expect, they tend to depend somewhat on one’s age. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common—the fourth leading cause of death among American adults—but others are no less tragic. It is generally recognized that our brains are what make humans special, and neurodegeneration erodes the specialness that defines the individuals who are important in our lives, as well as the collective potential of the entire human family. 

Dr. Drew: Neurodegenerative diseases affect millions of people and have devastating personal and societal consequences. These diseases more commonly occur in adults and elderly individuals, and the incidence of these diseases has increased dramatically as lifespan has increased. There are limited treatment options for most neurodegenerative disorders, and thus it is critical that basic science and clinical researchers collaborate to develop novel therapies.

How will the funding and establishment of the hub boost/accelerate the work that is being done in this area?

Dr. Barger: UAMS has a strong tradition of research and treatment for neurodegenerative disorders. But tradition is easily modified by the changing nature of our funding sources, our workforce, and even the factors that initiate disease. In a word, it boils down to “entropy,” a term that reflects the tendency of organized efforts to become disorganized over time. A fundamental property of entropy is that it can only be overcome with energy. So, it is critical that we respond to the changing nature of medicine energetically. Financial resources are energy, pure and simple. This funding will ensure that we not only maintain traditional strengths but also create new paths of progress through previously unseen opportunities to collaborate. We will learn from each other and pool resources. More specifically, establishment of the hub means that contributions from every member will support the reinvigoration of research expertise in ALS (“Lou Gehrig’s disease”), the renewal of a NIH Program Project Grant on Alzheimer’s, a concrete research effort to support our Movement Disorders Clinic, and greater interaction between neurobiologists and the Psychiatric Research Institute.

Dr. Drew: Creativity Hub funding is expected to increase extramural grant funding including interdisciplinary collaborative grants and programmatic grants. Funding will also increase collaborative research between basic science and clinical researchers. Furthermore, the funding will facilitate career development and mentoring programs for neurodegeneration researchers including students, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty.

Please comment on the caliber of the UAMS researchers currently working in this area.

Dr. Barger: One of the requirements in the application for a Creativity Hub was documentation of the expertise and accomplishments of the principal human components. This group comprises individuals who have been leaders in their fields throughout their careers. The university’s research office recently made note of the UAMS researchers who were included in a recent ranking of the top 2% of research scientists across all time and geography. Nearly a fifth of those elite individuals from UAMS will be included in the Neurodegeneration Creativity Hub. Sue Griffin, Ph.D., was given the Alzheimer’s Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Gwen Childs, Ph.D., received the George Gomori Award, which amounts to recognition by the national Histochemical Society of their top scientist only once every four years. Lee Archer, M.D., was selected by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for the prestigious designation as “Partner in MS Care.” Dr. Bill Slikker was awarded the Mildred S. Christian Career Achievement Award by the Academy of Toxicological Sciences and the George H. Scott Memorial Award from the Toxicology Forum. Many among our team are or have been officers in national and international scientific organizations, chairs of NIH review panels, and on the editorial boards of major scientific publications. It is also significant that many of the hub’s faculty have been mentors of students who have won their own awards. Furtherance of research education and career advancement will be an important goal of the hub.

Dr. Drew: Neurodegeneration research has traditionally been a strength at UAMS including a program project on Alzheimer’s disease which has been continuously funded for over two decades. There is also excellent research concerning multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson’s disease and stroke at UAMS. Traditionally, these research teams have largely worked independently, and it is hoped that the Creativity Hub will bring these researchers together to more effectively advance our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.

What is the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration?

Dr. Barger: Like most aspects of life, biomedical research is getting increasingly specialized. This is largely just a natural outcome of technological and conceptual sophistication. As knowledge and methodology advance, they get divided into more and more numerous components. So, we researchers get deeper and deeper into the granular details of our subfields. It is important to step back and look at the problem from a broader perspective. This is true for the conceptual framework on which the research is hung. And, it is also true in a technical sense. Sometimes, interdisciplinary collaboration will reveal an appropriate methodology that would not have been recognized without the views and experiences of colleagues in diverse fields.

I would also like to emphasize the potential for the Creativity Hub initiative to enhance diversity and inclusion. This was a stated objective in the announcement of the program, and I am gratified that components focused on mentoring the next generation of researchers will include active and intentional efforts to overcome the hurdles and stumbling blocks that have traditionally excluded certain classes and groups of people. Among other dividends, this should facilitate the development of research into a wider array of health concerns, to the benefit of all Arkansans.

Dr. Drew: As noted earlier, the breadth and magnitude of neurodegenerative diseases and fact that there are only limited therapies for most neurodegenerative diseases makes it imperative for basic science and clinical researchers to work together to develop new and better treatments as expeditiously as possible.

Musculoskeletal Health & Disease

Q&A with Creativity Hub Leader Teresita Bellido, Ph.D.

Please comment on being selected as a Creativity Hub.

On behalf of UAMS musculoskeletal investigators and professionals, I feel honored and gratified that the Musculoskeletal Creativity Hub was selected by Dean Smyth for funding. This fact is particularly humbling knowing that 23 proposals by excellent research groups at UAMS were submitted and only four were selected for funding.

Why is this hub’s focus of research so important?

Diseases like osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, developmental skeletal abnormalities, poor nutrition, and cancer – such as multiple myeloma and breast cancer – negatively impact the skeleton. There is an unmet need to better understand the causes of these diseases to support the development of more effective prevention strategies and therapies. To address this need, UAMS has supported research in the musculoskeletal field for the last 20 years, including recent recruitments, and UAMS researchers are well funded by the NIH, the VA, USDA, and other sources. As a consequence, this is already a key signature area for which UAMS is nationally and internationally recognized. 

How will the funding and establishment of the hub boost/accelerate the work that is being done in this area?

We identified key areas for investment that will take advantage of the existing strengths to promote synergy between, and expand the abilities of, existing programs. Our vision is to capitalize on the UAMS investment and the success of musculoskeletal investigators by strengthening focus areas that will enhance the recognition of UAMS as well as promote interaction between musculoskeletal investigators and those involved in cancer research (another key signature area at UAMS) and with investigators at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center (ACNC) at Arkansas Children’s. These efforts will also increase the opportunities to recruit new investigators to UAMS, retain talent within the state, and increase diversity. Our goals are in sync with the 2029 UAMS vision plan developed by the UAMS Chancellor and the Provost.

Please comment on the caliber of the UAMS researchers currently working in this area.

UAMS researchers are among the most outstanding investigators in the musculoskeletal field. The Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, is represented by its Division Director, Elena Ambrogini, M.D., Ph.D., as well as Charles O’Brien, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Musculoskeletal Disease Research, which is supported by a NIH Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant. This group of investigators carries on the vision of the UAMS and VA Center for Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases, which was funded under the leadership of Stavros Manolagas, M.D., Ph.D., starting more than two decades ago. C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., and David Bumpass, M.D., Chair and Vice-Chair of Research, respectively, of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, are committed to enhancing research in orthopedics at UAMS and actively interact with other UAMS departments. I am past president of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, and since my recruitment and return to UAMS as Chair of Physiology and Cell Biology in 2020, I have increased the emphasis on musculoskeletal research, making it one of our department’s research signatures. Mario Ferruzzi, Ph.D., who was recruited in 2021 as Director of the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center and a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, is committed to interacting with other UAMS departments. Drs. Ambrogini, O’Brien and I are also VA investigators, providing a solid foundation to the planned expansion of musculoskeletal research supported by the VA in the next few years.

What is the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration?

The goal is to accelerate the synergism among the departments of Physiology and Cell Biology, Medicine/Endocrinology, Orthopaedic Surgery, and the Cancer Institute (CI) at UAMS; enhance the UAMS and Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) relationship; initiate collaborations with the Arkansas Children Nutrition Center; and expand collaborations with investigators at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. The following research areas will constitute the major focus of these efforts: bone and cancer; bone pathophysiology; and regulation of bone and muscle over the lifespan by nutrition and physical activity.

Lifespan Research to Improve Cardiometabolic Health

Q&A with Creativity Hub Leader Elisabet Borsheim, Ph.D.

Please comment on being selected as a Creativity Hub.

This is a very exciting opportunity to initiate a strong life course program at UAMS in collaboration with Arkansas Children’s focusing on improving cardiometabolic health.

Why is this hub’s focus of research so important?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Arkansas and in the U.S. as a whole. Known risk factors for heart disease in adults include high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, suboptimal diet, and physical inactivity. Early life exposure can impact health and disease across the life course. Understanding early-life factors and their relations to trajectories of cardiometabolic health can help us develop effective and strategic interventions directed towards critical time periods to prevent cardiometabolic disease. 

How will the funding and establishment of the hub boost/accelerate the work that is being done in this area?

The funding will bring together researchers at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, the Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, and at the UAMS campus, who work along a spectrum from pre-pregnancy, gestation, childhood, adolescents, young adults, and older adults. Thus, it will bridge research in pediatrics and geriatrics. The funding will help kickstart unique teamwork on lifespan/healthspan research, including initiating infrastructure to facilitate such collaborations. It is expected that the work will lead to training of new diverse investigators in the field, and to collaborative research publications and grants for further expansion of the team’s work.

Please comment on the caliber of the UAMS researchers currently working in this area.

The team consists of senior, early- and mid-career investigators. Several of the senior team members are listed in the recent study from Stanford University ranking the top 2% most influential researchers, highlighting the expertise and strong mentoring potential within the team. Additional team members are from the Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center (ACNC), and/or Arkansas Children’s Research Institute: Aline Andres, Ph.D., R.D., Professor (Associate Director ACNC); Eva. C. Diaz, M.D., Assistant Professor; Mario Ferruzzi, Ph.D., Professor (ACNC Center Director; Section Chief Developmental Nutrition); Craig Porter, Ph.D., Associate Professor; Elijah Bolin, M.D., Associate Professor; Emir Tas, M.D., Assistant Professor, Keshari Thakali, Ph.D., Assistant Professor; from the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine: Taren Swindle, Ph.D., Associate Professor (also ACNC); and from the Department of Geriatrics/ Reynolds Institute on Aging: Jeannie Wei, M.D., Ph.D. (Chair); Robert R. Wolfe, Ph.D., Professor; Arny Ferrando, Ph.D., Professor; Gohar Azhar, M.D., Professor.  

What is the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration?

Interdisciplinary collaboration is mutually beneficial for team members and enhances outcomes. Our Hub includes basic, clinical and implementation scientists. Such collaboration enables evaluation of the clinical and applied value of the research, ensuring high significance.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Health

Q&A with Creativity Hub Leader Fred Prior, Ph.D.

Please comment on being selected as a Creativity Hub.

We were surprised to be selected given all of the excellent proposals and very pleased.

Why is this hub’s focus of research so important?

Artificial Intelligence is being embedded into almost everything we deal with – from TV sets to cars. It has already made a major impact on biomedical research and is beginning to be felt in the clinic. UAMS needs to be prepared to wisely choose appropriate tools and to use them knowledgably. We need to pool our knowledge and expertise and grow resources and skills in this space. AI is a train that already left the station. We need to be on board and helping to select the next destinations. 

How will the funding and establishment of the hub boost/accelerate the work that is being done in this area?

The funding will help us to establish a framework for future research, future grant funding and the capability to guide integration of new tools into clinical practice. We plan to not only build capacity at UAMS, but to reach out across the state to build collaborations and to provide training opportunities to focus attention on medical applications of AI. We plan to leverage this work in the informatics component of the CTSA grant renewal next year.

Please comment on the caliber of the UAMS researchers currently working in this area.

We have an excellent team drawn from both clinical and basic science departments with many hub members also serving in the Translational Research Institute, the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, and the Institute for Digital Health and Innovation (IDHI). Joining me from the Department of Biomedical Informatics are Vice Chair and Professor Mathias Brochhausen, Ph.D.; David Ussery, Ph.D., Professor; Intawat Nookaew, Ph.D., Associate Professor; Horacio Gomez-Acevedo, Ph.D., Associate Professor; Galina Glazko, Ph.D., Associate Professor; Jonathan Bona, Ph.D., Assistant Professor; Michael Robeson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor; Yasir Rahmatallah, Ph.D., Assistant Professor; and Christopher Wardell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor. Joseph Sanford, M.D., Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Biomedical Informatics, serves as Associate Vice Chancellor, Chief Clinical Informatics Officer and Director of IDHI. Kevin Sexton, M.D., Associate Professor of Surgery and Biomedical Informatics, is Associate Chief Medical Officer, Associate Director of IDHI, and Associate Chief Clinical Informatics Officer for Innovation, Research and Entrepreneurship. Jonathan Laryea, M.D., is Professor of and Chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery and Medical Director of the Cancer Service Line in the Cancer Institute. Dr. Grover Miller is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

What is the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration?

This is very definitely a team sport. We see AI and in particular machine learning as a critical research tool with broad applicability.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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