Department of Pathology
Bobby Boyanton Jr., M.D.
Bobby Boyanton Jr., M.D., has joined the Department of Pathology as Professor and Section Chief of Pathology at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He previously was a Professor of Pathology at the William Beaumont College of Medicine of Oakland University in Michigan, where he led the clinical microbiology and molecular pathology laboratories and served as Associate Residency Program Director at Beaumont Hospital.
“Dr. Boyanton has a rare blend of expertise in both molecular pathology and medical microbiology and leadership,” said Jennifer Hunt, M.D., M. Ed., Professor and Aubrey Hough Endowed Chair of the Department of Pathology. “His unique skill set, talent and love for mentoring, teaching and education will help us continue to grow and expand our pathology operations and training at ACH.”
Dr. Boyanton received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in 2002. He completed residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2002-2003 and at Baylor College of Medicine in 2003-2006. He continued his training with a molecular genetic pathology fellowship at Baylor and recently pursued additional training in laboratory management, receiving certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and American Pathology Foundation’s Lab Management University.
During his time at Beaumont, Dr. Boyanton led numerous clinical and research initiatives. As the laboratory director he brought in many new state-of-the-art clinical assays and novel testing platforms. His initiatives included implementation of high-throughput molecular biology testing and expansion of reference laboratory capabilities at Beaumont Hospital. Honors included being featured in HOUR Detroit magazine’s 2016 list of Top Docs.
Zhiqiang Qin, M.D., Ph.D.
Zhiqiang Qin, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the Department of Pathology as an Associate Professor. Dr. Qin received his medical degree and his doctorate in microbiology at the Fudan University and Fudan University Medical School in Shanghai, China. He trained as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Medical University of South Carolina, where he went on to become a Staff Scientist and a Research Assistant Professor.
Dr. Qin served on the faculty at Louisiana State University health Science Center in New Orleans from 2011 until his recruitment to UAMS. His research focuses on cancer oncology and microbiology. He has an active National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute research award for a project titled “Periodontal bacteria enhance oral KSHV pathogenesis and Kaposi’s Sarcoma development in HIV+ patients.”
Department of Pediatrics
Fernando Vargas, M.D., M.P.H.
Fernando Vargas, M.D., M.P.H., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Developmental Pediatrics. Dr. Vargas received his medical degree and his Master of Public Health at the University of Michigan, where he also completed his residency. He recently completed a fellowship in pediatric rehabilitation at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.
Department of Surgery
Kalenda Kasangana, M.D., RPVI
Kalenda Kasangana, M.D., RPVI, has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. Dr. Kasangana received his medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada in 2008. He completed his residency in general surgery and fellowship in vascular surgery at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he received the Fellowship Achievement Award for outstanding performance, clinical expertise and his commitment to medical training and patient care.
Dr. Kasangana is board certified in general and vascular surgery and is a Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation. His clinical expertise includes open and endovascular treatment of aortic, visceral, carotid, extremity arterial disease, vein disease, hemodialysis access creation and maintenance, wound care and interpretation of non-invasive vascular studies.