The UAMS College of Medicine is pleased to introduce the recipients of the 2024 Dean’s Honor Day awards. The faculty and staff members highlighted on this page were recognized at an April 16 ceremony for their outstanding work and service in clinical care, research, administration and humanism.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the Dean’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award to Eduardo R. “Eddie” Ochoa Jr., M.D., a professor in the Department of Pediatrics who has strived to improve the health and quality of life of children in Arkansas and nationally since joining the faculty in 1999. He also has held impactful roles such as helping the college identify and select promising future physicians as a multi-term member of and chair of the college’s student admissions committee.
Read more about Ochoa and the ceremony overall in the 2024 Dean’s Honor Day main feature story.
Congratulations to the following 2024 award winners!
Staff Excellence Awards
Staff Excellence – Education
Jessica Bursk
Program Education Manager
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
Jessica Bursk has been a tireless champion for medical education in a variety of roles with the College of Medicine Department of Family and Preventive Medicine (DFPM) and UAMS Regional Campuses since 2015, including Program Education Manager since 2023.
“She has been an indispensable contributor to our department’s medical student programs, and that is saying a lot, because our department has activities and programs across the curriculum and really in every corner of the state,” Leslie Stone, M.D., MPH, assistant professor and director of the Family Medicine Clerkship, said when presenting the award.
Bursk works closely with current medical students and potential students participating in UAMS pipeline programs. Stone said Bursk is always approachable and supportive for both students and faculty and a skilled communicator and facilitator who remains “relentlessly positive.” In his nomination letter, he included a comment from a grateful medical student who spoke of Bursk’s “passionate” advocacy of family medicine.
“Jessica’s resourcefulness and creativity have ensured that when we do meet challenges, they are quickly overcome,” Stone added. “She shows us every day the impact of always placing students first.”
Staff Excellence – Research
Caroline Miller Robinson, B.S.
Program Financial Manager
Arkansas INBRE
Caroline Miller Robinson, B.S., has been an integral contributor to the Arkansas INBRE (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence) program at UAMS since its inception in 2001, helping the program build a statewide research infrastructure that serves as a pipeline for future and emerging biomedical scientists.
“When I talk about Caroline’s role, I think of it as being like the ringleader at a three-ring circus,” Jerry Ware, professor of Physiology and Cell Biology and Arkansas INBRE program coordinator, joked when presenting the award. “I see 40 simultaneous juggling acts going on … and half of the jugglers don’t know how to juggle, so Caroline has to teach them. She does this with patience, with professionalism, and she is very passionate about the program.”
Ware and Lawrence Cornett, Ph.D., distinguished professor of Physiology and Cell Biology and Director of Arkansas INBRE, noted in their nomination letter that with Robinson’s help, the program has brought in more than $83 million in National Institutes of Health funding.
“Caroline is the ‘go-to person’ when a PUI (primarily undergraduate institution) faculty member, administrator or student needs help finding a research resource, navigating the complexities of NIH grant regulations, or just learning more about the opportunities that the Arkansas INBRE provides,” they wrote.
Staff Excellence – Clinical
Chris Cathcart, DPT, MBA
Physical Therapist
Trauma Program
Chris Cathcart, DPT, MBA, has been an indispensable member of the UAMS Trauma team for over a decade, bringing his expertise in physical therapy and compassion to countless patients with complex injuries.
“Our success and excellence in trauma patient care outcomes at UAMS relies on the expertise, coordination and effective communication on a multidisciplinary level, and Chris is one of the best examples of that approach,” nominator Mary Katherine Kimbrough, M.D., associate professor of surgery, said at the ceremony.
“Our trauma patients can be a challenging patient population due to multiple pre-existing comorbidities, complicated injuries and complex social situations,” Kimbrough explained. “Chris’ profound impact on the recovery journey of our patients, particularly those affected by injuries, overwhelming fear, and pain, exemplifies unparalleled dedication, skill and humanity. Chris is able to calm their fears, build rapport and trust, and motivate our patients to move.”
Other members of the Trauma team echoed those sentiments in testimonials Kimbrough shared in her nomination letter, including Britney Beumeler, APRN, who said Cathcart is adept at navigating each patient’s unique challenges. “His tenacity in the face of adversity, coupled with his ability to foster trust and confidence in even the most apprehensive of patients, sets a benchmark for clinical excellence,” Beumeler wrote.
Staff Excellence – Administration
Robin Rogers, B.A.
Associate Chair, Finance and Administration
Department of Biomedical Informatics
Robin Rogers, B.A., has been crucial to the growth of biomedical informatics programs at UAMS as the administrative leader for a team of over 50 researchers and other personnel in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI).
“Without Robin, we would not have been able to build this (former) division into a strong department that is supporting the mission of a modern academic medical center,” Mathias Brochhausen, Ph.D., professor and vice chair for academic programs and faculty development, said when presenting the award. “Robin has been steadfast in communicating inside and outside of the department what our vision and mission is. She was proactive in making sure everyone found a ‘home’ in the department as it grew.”
Joining Brochhausen in nominating Rogers were assistant professors Yasir Rahmatallah, Ph.D., and Tremaine Williams, Ed.D. “We have relied heavily on her guiding of our faculty and students through many critical milestones in our department’s history,” Williams wrote, citing the development of biomedical informatics graduate programs as an example.
“With 25 years of service in different units within UAMS, Robin has intimate knowledge of different administrative levels in the organization,” Rahmatallah wrote. “She is the trusted go-to person when personal or work-related issues are encountered. Her dedication to duties and staff members is exemplary.”
Graduate Medical Education (GME) Educator Awards
GME Educator – Program Coordinator
Angela Warr
Program Coordinator
Pain Medicine Fellowship
Angela Warr has worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the UAMS Pain Medicine Fellowship since its inception in 2019, bringing exceptional dedication to her role as program coordinator.
Molly Gathright, executive associate dean for graduate medical education and the designated institutional official (DIO) for the College of Medicine’s residency and fellowship training programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), shared accolades from nominators Jarna Shah, M.D., program director, and current fellow Bryan Slepicka, D.O.
“(Warr) is described as detail oriented, inquisitive and talented in knowing the ins and outs of all of the ACGME requirements,” Gathright said, quoting from Shah’s letter. “And as the DIO of UAMS College of Medicine programs, I can tell you that knowing the ACGME requirements well means everything for the excellence and success of our training programs.”
“Angela believes in excellence,” Shah wrote in her letter. “She is incredibly organized, intelligent and driven. There is no task that is too challenging for her to tackle. She pushes me to be the best version of a PD that I can be.”
In his nomination letter, Slepicka praised Warr for always being available to help and for assisting him and his wife as they settled in Little Rock when he started the fellowship.
GME Educator – Program Director
Priya Mendiratta, M.D., MPH
Program Director, Geriatrics Medicine Fellowship
Professor, Department of Geriatrics
Alexa and William T. Dillard Distinguished Endowed Chair in Geriatrics
Priya Mendiratta, M.D., MPH, has trained, mentored and inspired many geriatrics fellows as program director for the Geriatrics Medicine Fellowship – along with a wide range of other learners as vice chair for education and clerkship director in the Department of Geriatrics.
“Dr. Mendiratta’s contribution reaches far beyond Geriatrics,” Molly Gathright, M.D., executive associate dean for graduate medical education and designated institutional official for College of Medicine GME programs, said when presenting the award.
Gathright noted that Mendiratta has developed an interprofessional geriatric education course with innovative approaches to enhance experiential learning. “She frequently teaches residents from both Family Medicine and Internal Medicine, as well as postdoctoral fellows from other fellowships at UAMS,” Gathright said. “She teaches students from the colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Health Professions, including the Physician Assistant Program. So, as you can see, Dr. Mendiratta has an impact on a broad spectrum of learners at UAMS.”
Multiple nomination letters echoed Mendiratta’s dedication, leadership and innovation to geriatric education. Nominators included Jeanne Wei, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of Geriatrics and executive director of the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging; Joni Pharis, fellowship coordinator; and Tasha Smith, clerkship coordinator. Eleven current and former fellows wrote in support of Mendiratta’s nomination.
Faculty Awards in Education, Research and Humanism
Master Teacher Award
Steve Schexnayder, M.D.
Professor, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Executive Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Morris and Hettie Oakley Chair in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Steve Schexnayder, M.D., has strived to enhance medical education for students, residents, fellows and faculty in the Department of Pediatrics and College of Medicine for over two decades, exemplifying the characteristics of a “master teacher.”
“While he is nationally and internationally known as a critical care physician, Dr. Schexnayder is also known locally as a consummate educator,” William Steinbach, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics and associate dean for child health in the College of Medicine, said at the ceremony.
Schexnayder, who currently serves as executive vice chair in the Department of Pediatrics, has held many leadership roles in education, including vice chair of education in 2011-2019. Earlier posts included associate director and director of the Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship, associate director of the Pediatrics/Internal Medicine Residency, and associate program director of the Pediatric Residency Program. He served as chief of the Section of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine in 2003-2023. Schexnayder has overseen the training of more than 50 pediatric critical care fellows and has mentored countless residents, fellows and medical students.
Schexnayder has received many honors for his work in education, including multiple student-selected Golden Apple, Gold Sash and Red Sash awards, department resident teaching awards, the UAMS Chancellor’s Faculty Teaching Award, and the College of Medicine Educational Innovation Award.
Educational Innovation
Ahmed Abuabdou, M.D., MBA
Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Chief Clinical Officer, UAMS Medical Center
Ahmed Abuabdou, M.D., MBA, implemented an innovative elective experience for resident and fellow physicians called System-Based Practice that goes beyond the curriculum of most programs.
“One novel aspect of the elective involves having participants shadow into the Tier-3 hospital leadership safety huddles,” said nominator Carol Thrush, Ed.D., a professor of education in the departments of Surgery, Internal Medicine and Graduate Medical Education. “Another novel feature is the interprofessional structure. Clinical and operations leaders and staff at UAMS serve as co-instructors, addressing system-level topics that are not usually otherwise covered in the curriculum. For example, co-instructors are leaders in charge of areas such as physician advising, audit and billing compliance, care management, quality improvement and legal affairs.”
“The experience is designed to offer participants a behind-the-scenes look at the operations and hospital functioning, with the goal of imprinting our graduates with a systems-based and institutional level lens, to deliver the highest quality of patient care,” Thrush said.
The elective was first offered to Internal Medicine residents, starting in 2020. By popular demand, this year it was offered more widely to trainees in any specialty program at UAMS. Abuabdou has gained national attention for the elective from organizations and other academic medical centers that are interested in offering it to their trainees.
Educational Research
Karen Dickinson, MBBS, M.D., MBA
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
Director of IPE Simulation and Clinical Skills Training
Karen Dickinson, MBBS, M.D., MBA, brings exceptional passion and enthusiasm for surgical education scholarship, along with significant expertise in the field, to UAMS.
“Dr. Dickinson brings a unique perspective to her role as a UAMS surgical educator, based on her training experiences in both the U.K. and the U.S.,” said nominator and surgical research collaborator Mary Katherine Kimbrough, M.D., associate professor and program director for the General Surgery Residency.
“She has truly demonstrated exceptional educational scholarly work,” Kimbrough said. “Her enthusiasm for surgical education research is infectious, and she has had a great impact on our department.” Among many contributions, Dickinson was instrumental in achieving American College of Surgeons-Accredited Education Institutes (ACS-AEI) accreditation status for the UAMS Centers for Simulation Education.
“Impressively, Dr. Dickinson has had 40 surgical educational research papers in the last three years alone, 23 as first author and eight as senior author, where she mentored others,” Kimbrough said. “Dr. Dickinson has been recognized nationally and internationally for the quality of her educational research, including being selected as the recipient of the 2022 Promising Educational Scholar Award from the Association of Surgical Education, and more recently being selected for the competitive appointment to the Research Committee for the international Society for Simulation in Healthcare.”
Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine
Presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation
David Kelley, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
Director, DFPM Division of Undergraduate Education
Co-Course Director, Practice of Medicine II
David Kelley, M.D., joined the faculty in 2022 and has quickly gained respect and appreciation as an outstanding physician and educator who exemplifies humanism.
Kelley recently was named Director of the Division of Undergraduate Education in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine (DFPM). He also serves as Co-Course Director of the Practice of Medicine II course for second-year medical students. Nominator Diane Jarrett, Ed.D., M.A., assistant professor, shared comments from students, residents and patients that reflect Kelley’s positive impact on them.
“Medical student evaluations include, ‘I feel inspired by his communication skills with patients and the strategies he uses to gain their trust so quickly;’ and ‘He makes patients feel safe,’” Jarrett said. “Residents said, ‘He has helped me so much with my professional and personal growth;’ ‘He is an amazing mentor;’ and ‘He’s a role model physician.’”
“His patients are even more laudatory,” Jarrett said. “They have said things like, ‘kind and considerate;’ ‘A spirit of caring along with being compassionate;’ ‘the best care I have ever received;’ and this one is my favorite: ‘He is one of the best doctors I’ve ever seen, so definitely give him some accolades and high stars.’”
Excellence in Research
Lorraine McKelvey, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
Developmental Psychologist, Research and Evaluation Division
Lorraine McKelvey, Ph.D., has made substantial scholarly contributions relevant to social determinants of health and the development of children from high-risk backgrounds as a leading researcher in the field.
“Dr. McKelvey conducts cutting-edge research in the field of applied developmental science, helping us to understand the impacts of both adverse and positive experiences on child development, and effective interventions to promote family health and child resilience,” said Nikki Edge, Ph.D., professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine (DFPM) and one of multiple nominators. “Her research is internationally known and has important implications for policy and practice across the fields of early childhood, prevention science and medicine.”
McKelvey joined the UAMS faculty in 2005. She has received 32 grants and contracts to date, totaling more than $35 million, from federal, state and foundation sources. She has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed manuscripts, including many published in top journals in the field. She has delivered more than 200 national and international presentations and has served on numerous national expert scientific panels.
“Those who know Dr. McKelvey would say that her excellence as a researcher is eclipsed only by her excellence as a human being,” Edge said. “She is a generous colleague, a mentor to so many, and a loyal and supportive friend.”
Clinical Excellence Awards
Outstanding Advanced Practice Provider
Ashley Wilson, DNP
APRN Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery
Ashley Wilson, DNP, APRN, has provided exceptional care for complex pediatric cardiac patients at Arkansas Children’s while making important contributions to clinical research and education.
“Ms. Wilson is a colleague and a friend who, in my humble opinion, exemplifies the three pillars of academic medicine: clinical ability, academic curiosity, and commitment to education,” nominator Lawrence Greiten, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Surgery and a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon, said when presenting the award.
“Beyond the walls of UAMS, she serves on numerous committees, has administrative and leadership abilities, and has become a regional leader in mechanical and circulatory support, as well as improving the quality and outcome measures of the complex congenital heart patients she cares for,” Greiten said.
Wilson’s national contributions include serving on the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative. In Arkansas during the COVID-19 pandemic, she had a leading role in growing the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program.
“I would also be remiss if I also did not use this opportunity to personally thank Ms. Wilson for all the countless hours she puts into my practice and the ACH Heart Institute as well,” Greiten said. “All of us have benefited from her patience, her practice, and her mission to support our patients, practice and mission.”
Excellence in Quality and Safety
Tabasum Imran, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
UAMS West Regional Campus
Tabasum Imran, M.D., has championed best practices, achieved exemplary performance on clinical outcome measures, and implemented tools and processes to improve patient experience at UAMS West in Fort Smith since 2011.
“Dr. Imran has personified these standards for years and continues to serve as a role model for others in the areas of quality and safety,” said nominator Shashank Kraleti, M.D., chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and director of the UAMS Primary Care and Population Health Service Line.
“The best example of her work and leadership is the project leading to better blood pressure control for patients at UAMS West,” Kraleti said. Clinicians across Arkansas and the nation struggle to control blood pressure in their patient population. Under Imran’s guidance, every clinician at UAMS West has been able to surpass the national target for the measure. “This has led to putting UAMS and Arkansas on the national map for CDC’s Million Hearts Program,” Kraleti said. “Fort Smith is the only site that has hit the target and surpassed it.”
Imran recently was appointed as assistant service line director for clinical quality. “I really look forward to her bringing these initiatives and measures across the primary care network and improving the quality of care that we provide across the state,” Kraleti said.
Excellence in Service & Professionalism
Chenia Eubanks, M.D., MPH
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Section Chief, Community Pediatrics
Chenia Eubanks, M.D., embodies compassionate leadership and dedication to the betterment of children in Arkansas, inspiring the colleagues she leads in the Section of Community Pediatrics.
“As the section chief for the Section of Community Pediatrics, Dr. Eubanks has not only been a beacon of inspiration, but also the driving force behind the impactful initiatives that touched the lives of countless children and families in our state,” said Sarah Sobik, M.D., MPH, who presented the award on behalf of several co-nominators.
“Dr. Eubanks has demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities that have propelled our section and department to new heights,” Sobik explained. “She possesses a rare combination of empathy, expertise and vision, which has enabled her to guide our team with grace and determination. Under her guidance, we have witnessed the implementation of innovative programs that address the unique health care needs of children in southwest Little Rock.”
Eubanks is known for her unwavering commitment to serving those in need. “I often tell her she’s the most empathetic person that I have ever met,” Sobik said. “Whether volunteering, advocating for underserved populations, or mentoring aspiring health care professionals, she goes above and beyond to make a better, positive impact wherever she goes, and her dedication to fostering a culture of inclusivity and compassion sets a shining example for us all.”
Best Consulting Physician
Sarah Cobb, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics-Child Neurology
Director of Neonatal Neurocritical Care
Sarah Cobb, M.D., embodies the qualities of an ideal consulting physician with extensive clinical expertise as a neonatal neurologist, exceptional communication skills and a collaborative spirit.
“She embodies what a consulting physician needs to be, said neonatologist and co-nominator Franscesca Miquel-Verges, M.D. “Dr. Cobb is an excellent clinician, but she goes out of her way to provide great care to not only the babies in the NICU, as well as all of their family – frankly, she takes care of all of us in the NICU.”
“She goes above and beyond to make sure that the primary team knows what the plan is for the baby,” Miquel-Verges said of Cobb. “She never makes us feel stupid when we say, ‘Say that again? You want me to do what with the baby?’ She will come by and explain it. She will take the time to look at the MRI. When the family comes back later, she will come back and explain things to them.”
“Not only does she do this all of the time – she does it with a smile,” Miquel-Verges said, noting Cobb’s kindness. “Thank you, Sarah, for showing us what physicians at UAMS and Children’s can be.”
Collaborations & Teamwork
Lyle Burdine, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery
Director, Solid Organ Transplant Surgery
Lyle Burdine, M.D., Ph.D., has fostered an environment of collaboration at UAMS Medical Center and around Arkansas to ensure that transplant patients receive the comprehensive, coordinated care they need.
“Dr. Burdine is the epitome of clinical collaborations and teamwork,” said nominator Ron Robertson, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Surgery. “He has led the Transplant Program to unparalleled heights.”
Robertson noted that UAMS recently received the best possible five out of five bars for both the kidney and transplant programs from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. “The Transplant Program has the distinction of being first in the United States in patient survival for those awaiting transplantation,” he said. “We are second in the United States for the speed at which patients receive a deceased donor liver.”
Burdine’s leadership also has been instrumental in developing satellite clinics across the state to provide accessible care for transplant patients. “These clinics are not just centers of excellence for transplant medicine; they also serve as vital access points for dialysis access, hepatobiliary cancer treatment and general surgery, especially for those unable to travel to Little Rock for care,” Robertson wrote in his nomination letter.
Rising Star Clinical Faculty
Dinesh Edem, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine-Endocrinology
Director, Medical Weight Management
Dinesh Edem, M.D., is providing compassionate care for Arkansans struggling with obesity while gaining national recognition as an expert in endocrinology, diabetes and obesity.
“Dr. Edem exemplifies everything that a rising star would be,” said nominator Manisha Singh, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology. “Like a light in the dark skies, he decided to take on the challenge of obesity and diabetes in our state. I find that extremely inspiring.”
Edem directs the popular and impactful Medical Weight Management Program at UAMS. As an expert on obesity, he has been featured in numerous state and national media articles and broadcast interviews on issues relating to obesity and treatments for obesity. Singh noted that Edem has authored or co-authored 12 publications in peer-reviewed journals in the past two years. He is a prolific peer reviewer for nine medical journals.
“Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dinesh exemplifies the qualities of a true leader and role model within our institution,” Singh wrote in her nomination. “He consistently demonstrates integrity, humility and a collaborative spirit, earning his colleagues’ and peers’ respect and admiration.”
Physician of the Year
Ronda Henry-Tillman, M.D.
Professor and Executive Vice Chair, Department of Surgery
Division Chief, Breast Surgical Oncology
Muriel Balsam Kohn Chair in Breast Surgical Oncology
Ronda Henry-Tillman, M.D., is a nationally and internationally renowned breast surgical oncologist, leader in the Department of Surgery and UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, and devoted champion of patients in Arkansas and around the world.
Ron Robertson, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery, lamented the difficulty of trying to convey Henry-Tillman’s many accomplishments in a short award presentation.
“First of all, she is nationally and internationally recognized as a breast surgeon who has pioneered many of the operative techniques in breast oncoplastic surgery,” Robertson said. “And her patients absolutely adore her.”
Henry-Tillman is chief of breast surgery oncology and executive vice chair in the Department of Surgery at UAMS, where she has served on the faculty since completing her clinical breast fellowship in 1999. She also serves as director of UAMS Health Initiative and Disparities Research in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.
Henry-Tillman is a national leader in surgery, serving on numerous boards including the American Board of Surgery and the American Society of Breast Surgeons. She has received many honors, including the UAMS Dr. Edith Irby jones Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Lifetime Achievement Award, induction into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, and election to the Halsted Society, one of the most prestigious surgical societies in the world.
Watch the video recording of the ceremony here.
Watch the video tribute to associate professors.
Watch the video tribute to professors, distinguished professors and emeritus faculty.
Download a list of the 2024 promotion and tenure honorees.
All photos by Bryan Clifton