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  5. Meet the GME Team

Meet the GME Team

Molly Gathright
Molly Gathright, M.D.
Associate Dean, GME
Designated Institutional Official
Associate Professor, Psychiatry
(501) 686-8158
gathrightmollym@uams.edu
Dr. Molly Gathright is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and serves as the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education (GME) and Designated Institutional Official for UAMS College of Medicine (COM) GME. Dr. Gathright received her medical degree from UAMS COM in 2003 and remained at UAMS for a general psychiatry residency and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry before joining the faculty in 2008. Since that time, she has been very active in residency education serving as program director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship until assuming the role as Assistant Dean for GME from 2016-2019. Additionally, she serves as the program director for the Transitional Year Residency. Dr. Gathright is an avid runner and enjoys photography, baking, and traveling. With an open door policy, Dr. Gathright welcomes visitors, always has jar full of M&Ms to offer you, and loves to share a good cup of coffee and conversation.
picture of Dr. Harrington
Sarah Beth Harrington, M.D., FAAHPM
Assistant Designated Institutional Official
Associate Professor, Internal Medicine
Director, Division of Palliative Medicine
(501) 526-6990 Ext. 8057
seharrington@uams.edu
Dr. Sarah Beth Harrington joined the COM GME team in October 2020 as the Assistant Designated Institutional Official (DIO). Dr. Harrington currently serves as the Director of the UAMS Division of Palliative Medicine and the Chief of Palliative Care for the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. Dr. Harrington received her medical degree from UAMS and completed both her Internal Medicine residency and Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. Dr. Harrington served as the Program Director for the UAMS Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship program from 2009 to 2019. In support of UAMS’ partnership with Baptist Health, Dr. Harrington recently served as the Assistant DIO for Clinical Affairs for the Baptist Health-UAMS Medical Education program. Dr. Harrington enjoys spending time with family, coffee, reading, and taking naps. When she's not at work, she can be found on the sidelines of a soccer field, cheering for sons Cole and Patrick.
Jim Clardy, M.D.
Jim Clardy, M.D.
Director of the Center for GME
Professor, Psychiatry
(501)296-1159
jaclardy@uams.edu
Dr. Jim Clardy, a professor of psychiatry, served as associate dean for graduate medical education from 2004-2019. Dr. Clardy graduated from the College of Medicine in 1986 and remained at UAMS for his residency in psychiatry before completing a fellowship in schizophrenia research at the National Institute for Mental Health. Dr. Clardy enjoys gardening, landscaping, and especially likes collecting botanical specimens from friends and special places to serve as memories when they grow and bloom.
Jennie Kirby
Jennie Kirby, MPA
GME Director
(501)526-6434
jtkirby@uams.edu
With close to 20 years of program management experience, Jennie Kirby has worked as a public administration specialist at the state and federal level. Her UAMS COM GME professional experience includes serving as GME Director, Community Program Manager working with Arkansas’s GME community partners and a Program Manager for the UAMS COM Pediatric residency program. Jennie has lived and worked overseas in London, England for the World Association for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and in Japan, where she taught conversational English. In her free-time, she loves to read, try new restaurants and watch her daughter play soccer.
picture of Brenda Burks
Brenda Burks, MA
GME Education Manager
(501)686-8103
BEBurks@uams.edu
Brenda Burks joined the COM GME team in 2021 transitioning from a nine year career in Faculty Affairs at UAMS. She earned her BA and MA degrees in Applied Communication Studies from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She oversees the educational efforts of the UAMS COM GME office and directs the development of the continued growth and knowledge of GME program directors and program coordinators related to GME. Brenda is true-crime buff and a Hamilton fanatic. She is passionate about budgeting, good food, and fitness.
Jennifer Hankins
Jennifer Hankins, MPH, C-TAGME
GME Accreditation Manager
(501)526-6020
hankinsjennifera@uams.edu
Jennifer Hankins is an experienced healthcare administrator with a 17-year career at UAMS. She has worked in clinical, research, and academic medicine settings. Jennifer has been a member of the GME team since 2015 and is currently working as the Institutional Administrator. Her educational background includes and BA in Psychology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and an MPH from the College of Public Health at UAMS. Jennifer is also certified with the National Board of Certification of Training Administrators of GME. Jennifer is most happy traveling and spending time with her husband, Trey, and their twins, Hulse and Olivia.
picture of Emma Johnson
Emma Johnson
GME Affiliate Coordinator
Transitional Year Residency Coordinator
(501)526-1876
EJohnson3@uams.edu
Emma Johnson joined the GME Team in May 2021. She is the GME Affiliate Coordinator and Transitional Year Program Coordinator. She graduated from Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Outside of work Emma is a proud full time dog mom to her golden doodle, Simon.
Sarah Sharp
Sarah Sharp
GME Technology Manager
(501)526-7962
ssharp@uams.edu
Sarah Sharp is the administrator for our residency management software program, New Innovations. She provides educational and resource support and acts as the liaison between the hospital and their use of the reporting components of the software. She also maintains and updates the websites for Graduate Medical Education, Resident Wellness, and Transitional Year Residency Program. Sarah graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems. She is well versed with troubleshooting and problem solving technology and software. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, playing games, and being creative with DIY projects, crafts, and desserts.
picture of Gloria Townsend
Gloria Townsend
Executive Assistant II
Paralegal
(501)296-1159
townsendgloriaj@uams.edu
Gloria J. Townsend is the Executive Assistant/Paralegal for the GME office. She comes to the GME office skilled with high level executive assistance, office management and paralegal experience. She attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and studied business law. Subsequently in 1992, she and her husband moved to Little Rock, Arkansas where she attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and studied business administration. She attended UALR Law School where she obtained her paralegal certificate. In 1999, she joined UAMS and worked in the Chancellor’s office with the UAMS General Counsel where she then transitioned to the HIPAA Office helping draft HIPAA policies and procedures, and registering faculty and staff training. Her personal interests are wedding photography and event planning, design and execution. She loves to spend time with her husband, 3 cats, 1 dog and 2 horses.
Carol Thrush Ed.D.
Carol Thrush Ed.D.
Professor, COM, Surgery, Medicine and GME
(501)603-1149
thrushcarolr@uams.edu
Dr. Carol Thrush is a Professor in the Departments of Surgery, Medicine, and in the Office of Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Thrush provides support of GME faculty development, evaluation, scholarship, and accreditation-related activities. Dr. Thrush earned BA and MA degrees in Psychology from the University of West Florida, and an Ed.D. degree from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. She is passionate about science writing, publishing, her family, and the beach.
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Mailing Address: 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 686-7000
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