Please join us in welcoming these recent additions to the College of Medicine faculty.
Department of Anesthesiology
Emily Williamson, M.D.
Emily Williamson, M.D., has joined the Department of Anesthesiology as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Williamson received her medical degree from UAMS. She completed her anesthesia residency and a fellowship in acute pain medicine and regional anesthesia at West Virginia University in Morgantown. She served as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City for the year prior to her recruitment to UAMS.
Department of Internal Medicine
Sherry Abader, MBBCh
Sherry Abader, MBBCh, has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Abader received her medical degree in Cairo, Egypt. She completed residency training in the Baptist Health-UAMS Internal Medicine program in North Little Rock in July 2024.
Sinthia Alam, M.D.
Sinthia Alam, M.D., has joined the Department of Internal Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Alam received her medical degree, graduating with Honors in Research, at UAMS. She completed her internal medicine residency at UAMS in July 2024.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Lettie Odom, M.D.
Lettie Odom, M.D., has joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology.Dr. Odom earned her medical degree from UAMS in 2020 and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at UAMS this year.
Department of Otolaryngology
Tyler Merrill, M.D.
Tyler Merrill, M.D., has joined the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery as an Assistant Professor and Director of the Division of Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery. Dr. Merrill received his medical degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus in 2018. He completed his internship and residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at UAMS. Dr. Merrill continued his training with a fellowship in neurorhinology and endoscopic skull base surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Throughout residency and fellowship, Dr. Merrill cultivated research interests in patient safety and odontogenic sinusitis. His clinical practice will focus on patients with sinus disease as well as sinonasal and skull base tumors.
Anvesh Kompelli, M.D.
Anvesh Kompelli, M.D., has joined the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Kompelli received medical degree at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. He completed a clinical research fellowship at the Medical School of South Carolina and then came to UAMS for his residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Dr. Kompelli will practice comprehensive otolaryngology at the Baptist/UAMS Clinic in Little Rock and the UAMS Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic in Conway.
Adrian Williamson III, M.D.
Adrian Williamson, III, M.D., has joined the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery as an Associate Professor. Dr. Williamson received his medical degree and completed residency training in general surgery and otolaryngology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. Williamson served in private practice in Little Rock for 28 years before joining UAMS. A laryngologist, he specializes in treating patients with voice, airway and swallowing disorders. He will practice at the Baptist Health/UAMS Clinic in Little Rock.
Adrian Williamson IV, M.D.
Adrian Williamson IV, M.D., has joined the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Williamson received his medical degree at UAMS. He completed his otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. He continued his training with a fellowship in pediatric otolaryngology at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Williamson practices comprehensive pediatric otolaryngology at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. His primary clinical and academic interests include pediatric sleep apnea, airway disorders, voice disorders, thyroid disorders, neck masses, sinusitis, hearing loss and chronic ear conditions. He is active in teaching residents, fellows and medical students.
Department of Pediatrics
Dieu Doan, M.D.
Dieu Doan, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Instructor in the Allergy and Immunology Section. Dr. Doan earned her medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport in 2019. She completed her pediatric residency at UAMS and continued her training with a fellowship in allergy and immunology at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
An aspiring physician-scientist, Dr. Doan is completing an optional research-focused third year of fellowship focusing on the role of nutrition in food allergy. Under the mentorship of Professor Stacie Jones, M.D., she is evaluating the impact of allergen-elimination diets on growth, diet quality and nutritional status in young children with multiple food allergies. Her project involves collaboration with the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center and co-mentor Professor Aline Andres, Ph.D.
Thanh Thanh Dai, M.D.
Thanh Thanh Dai, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Child Abuse Pediatrics Section. Dr. Dai received her medical degree at UAMS. She completed her pediatric residency at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital and went on to complete a child abuse pediatrics fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
A member of the Team for Children at Risk at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Dr. Dai’s main focus outside of clinical service will be continuing education on recognizing and responding to child maltreatment for medical and non-medical members of a multidisciplinary team. Her professional interests include providing trauma-informed medical assessments for at-risk children, educating medical providers about child sexual behaviors, counseling children and caregivers about the effects of child sexual abuse materials, and mitigating bias for drug-endangered children.
Krystle McCarson, M.D.
Krystle McCarson, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Section. Dr. McCarson received her medical degree from the University of New Mexico. She completed her pediatric residency and pediatric emergency medicine fellowship at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She is interested in improving pediatric prehospital care through her involvement in emergency medical services for children. Her work includes implementation of a pathway for evaluation of soft tissue injuries in the emergency department.
Carissa Rodriquez, M.D.
Carissa Rodriquez, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Section. Dr. Rodriquez received her medical degree at Texas A&M University College of Medicine. She completed her residency at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Her interests include acute care medicine and investigating areas for improvement in recognizing acutely decompensating patients in the hospital, as well as resident education. Dr. Rodriquez is also a member of the Child Health Equity Council in the Department of Pediatrics.
Brittany Witt, M.D.
Brittany Witt, M.D., has joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Assistant Professor in the Neonatology Section. She earned her medical degree from Texas A&M Health Science Center. Dr. Witt completed her internship and residency training in pediatrics at UAMS, receiving the honors of Gordon E. Shutze Resident of the Year and Leader of Tomorrow upon graduation. She has special interests in advancing resident training and well-being and improving care for medically complex infants and children.
Department of Surgery
Jamie A. Cannon, M.D.
Jamie Cannon, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as a Professor in the Division of Colorectal Surgery. Dr. Cannon received her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. She completed a general surgery residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a fellowship in colorectal surgery at Georgia Colon and Rectal Surgical Associates in Atlanta.
Dr. Cannon comes to UAMS from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she was a Professor of Surgery and Program Director for the colorectal fellowship. She previously served as Director of the Colorectal Cancer Service Line and Division Director of Gastrointestinal Surgery. Dr. Cannon’s primary clinical interests are colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and diverticular disease. She is a renowned robotic surgeon and teaches robotic colorectal surgery to surgeons throughout the United States and around the world. Dr. Cannon is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
Gina N. Sacks, M.D.
Gina Sacks, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Plastic Surgery. Dr. Sacks received her medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She trained in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Michigan, where she also conducted research in ways to mitigate radiation damage on bone healing. Dr. Sacks continued her training with a fellowship in pediatric craniomaxillofacial surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. While there, she focused on management of complex cleft and craniofacial disorders including the full spectrum of cleft care, craniosynostosis and complex jaw surgery.
Dr. Sacks treats both bony and soft tissue issues and has a special interest in cleft care, including primary cleft lip and palate repair, alveolar bone grafting, nasal reconstruction, and jaw (orthognathic surgery).
John Montgomery, M.D.
John Montgomery, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Transplant Surgery. Dr. Montgomery received his medical degree from the University of South Carolina. He completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Michigan and an abdominal transplant surgery fellowship at New York University-Langone Hospital. While in residency, Dr. Montgomery earned a Masters in Health and Healthcare Research from the Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan. He will continue his research endeavors at UAMS, focusing on population health, obesity and implementation science.
Tsukasa Nakamura, M.D., Ph.D.
Tsukasa Nakamura, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Transplant Surgery. Dr. Nakamura received his medical degree and doctorate, as well as completing his general surgery residency, at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Kyoto, Japan. Dr. Nakamura contributed substantially to the living donor liver and kidney transplant program while serving as an Assistant Professor and then as a Lecturer at the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine.
Dr. Nakamura continued his training with a fellowship in abdominal transplant surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. He will continue his transplant surgery research at UAMS, focusing on transplant immunology and tolerance induction, including xenotransplantation.
Ulugbek Negmadjanov, M.D.
Ulugbek Negmadjanov, M.D., has joined the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery. Dr. Negmadjanov received his medical degree from Samarkand State Medical Institute, Samarkand, Uzbekistan. He completed his general surgery residency at Yale School of Medicine Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Dr. Negmadjanov continued his training in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, completing a vascular and endovascular fellowship. Prior to residency, Dr. Negmadjanov devoted several years to basic science and translational research, focusing on cardiovascular medicine. During this time, he authored multiple manuscripts and presented his work at local and regional conferences. Throughout his surgical training, he continued to publish and present his research, furthering his impact in vascular surgery.
Dr. Negmadjanov specializes in the management of arterial aneurysms, carotid artery disease and lower extremity arterial disease. He is experienced in creating vascular access for hemodialysis and managing less common conditions such as renal artery disease and mesenteric arterial disease. Additionally, Dr. Negmadjanov has a special interest in vascular exposures during spinal surgery, and he performs decompressive procedures for thoracic outlet syndrome. He is committed to surgical education and providing patient-centered care, combining clinical expertise with a collaborative approach to complex vascular conditions.