Resident Recruitment Committee | UAMS Department of Pediatrics

On your virtual interview day, representatives from the UAMS Pediatric Resident Recruitment Committee look forward to meeting you. Our Resident Recruitment Committee, representing the over 260 faculty members of the UAMS Department of Pediatrics working on the Arkansas Children’s campus, have provided brief bios below so that you can learn about them prior to your interview.

Jennifer Andrews, M.D.

Section: Neonatology Medical School: UAMS Residency: UAMS / ACH Dr. Andrews is an Arkansas native. She attended medical school at UAMS and completed her pediatric residency at UAMS/ACH. Dr. Andrews works with the term and late preterm newborns in the UAMS nursery/NICU and ACH NICU. She serves as the Medical Director for the Newborn Service at UAMS. She loves working with medical students and residents. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Andrews enjoys spending time with her two children, cooking, and traveling.

Ashley Antipolo, M.D.

Section: Clinical Informatics, Adolescent Medicine Medical School: UAMS Residency: UAMS Dr. Antipolo, a Little Rock native, lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart) and their 3 sons. She loves working in the service of the children or her home city and state. She is a Clinical Informaticist and works for Arkansas Children’s as an Associate Medical Information Officer where she helps her colleagues optimize their own patient care practices and assists in health IT & EHR development and improvement. Clinically, Dr. Antipolo is the medical director of the Adolescent Clinic where she cares for her teen patients. She is passionate about both her clinical and administrative work and enjoys sharing her knowledge in both areas with her resident and student learners.

Blair Beavers, M.D.

Section: Neonatology Medical School: UAMS Residency: UAMS Dr. Beavers is a newborn hospitalist in the department of Neonatology. She attended Mississippi College before returning to Arkansas for medical school and residency. She is married with two wonderful girls and enjoys traveling with her family whenever she gets the opportunity. She loves the Razorbacks, podcasts, reading, and time at the lake.

Jared Beavers, M.D.

Section: Neonatology/Newborn Hospitalist Medical School: UAMS Residency: UAMS Dr. Jared Beavers is a general pediatrician who serves in the division of Neonatology as a Newborn Hospitalist. He formerly served as Chief Resident for the ACH Pediatric Residency before staying on as faculty. Although he has always considered Arkansas home, Dr. Beavers has, like so many Arkansans, always maintained a special place in his heart for Arkansas Children's Hospital. The ability to serve the underserved, to serve without considering cost of care, and to be a part of a world class training center all drew Dr. Beavers into continuing his career at ACH. His passion for education, both for students and residents, and his love of integrating technology, data, and education have all contributed to his appointments as an Associate Director of the Housestaff and as a Medical Informatics Officer. When he isn't in his office or on the wards, Dr. Beavers can be found spending time with his amazing wife, Blair, who is also a Newborn Hospitalist, and his daughters, Emerson and Bennett. He can also be found in his shop tinkering, making, exploring, destructing, and otherwise up to mischief.

Kevin Bielamowicz, M.D.

Section: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas Residency: UAMS/Arkansas Children’s Hospital Fellowship: Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital Dr. Bielamowicz joined the faculty at UAMS in 2016. He received his undergraduate degree in biology and education from University of Texas at Austin. He then attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He completed a pediatric residency at UAMS/Arkansas Children’s Hospital followed by a fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital. He also completed a neuro-oncology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Bielamowicz also works closely with the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship and Pediatric Residency Programs as a mentor. He is married to his lovely wife Jessica and they have four kids - three boys and a girl. He enjoys playing the guitar poorly and camping and hiking with his family. He had a previous life as a high school science teacher. He loves ACH because it is a large children’s hospital that doesn’t feel so large.

Carla Brown, M.D.

Section: Neonatology Medical School: UAMS Residency: UAMS Dr. Brown is an Arkansas native. As a little girl growing up in the rural town of Wynne, she dreamed of one day becoming a pediatrician. That dream came true at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s, where she remained as faculty after completing medical school, residency, and a year as a pediatric chief resident. She is a general pediatrician in the neonatology section and practices in the newborn nursery and neonatal intensive care unit at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s. She is passionate about babies and medical student and residency education. She serves as the director of the pediatric clerkship and a College of Medicine academic house advisor. She received the College of Medicine outstanding teaching award for the 2020-2021 academic year and was selected by the class of 2021 as a Red Sash recipient. Dr. Brown enjoys spending time with her fabulous 12-year-old daughter, family, and friends, traveling, eating delicious food, and riding her Peloton. She loves that Little Rock offers the amenities of a bigger city while maintaining a small-town feel.

Carrie Brown, M.D.

Section: Neonatology Medical School: Ross University Residency: Blank Children’s Hospital – Iowa Methodist Medical Center I have been on faculty at UAMS since 2007. We came here from North Carolina so my husband could teach Social Work at UALR. Initially, I was in General Pediatrics/Hospitalist and now I work in Palliative Care, Complex Care, and Chronic Pain. Making a difference in the lives of families in challenging situations motivates me to be the best physician I can be every day. I enjoy working with medical students, residents, and fellows and watching them blossom from learners to competent medical professionals. My family has loved living in Little Rock and we have raised our two sons here. We have participated in scouting, dance, ice skating, and tennis over the years but tennis is the passion of everyone in the family. I never envisioned that Little Rock would be a long term location for our family but 15 years later we are still here and have no plans to leave. Arkansas is a great place to work and live!

Rebecca Cantu, M.D., MPH

Section: Hospital Medicine Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine Residency: Tulane University School of Medicine Fellowship: University of Alabama at Birmingham/Children’s of Alabama Dr. Cantu received her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine, then remained at Tulane for her pediatrics residency and a chief resident year. She completed a fellowship in pediatric hospital medicine at UAB. She is a pediatric hospitalist at ACH. She enjoys working with residents on teaching teams and her favorite topics of discussion are evidence-based & high-value care, demystifying clinical research, and breastfeeding. She is the program director of ACH’s new pediatric hospital medicine fellowship. She loves reading, knitting, and spending time with her two sons. Her favorite thing about Little Rock is the many options for outdoor activities.

Angela Chandler, M.D.

Section: Neonatology Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Residency: UAMS/ACH Fellowship: UAMS/ACH Dr. Chandler is the program director for the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship. She works with the residents and fellows at the UAMS NICU which supports a busy high risk obstetrical service. Her primary clinical focus is at the ACH NICU where she cares for neonates and older infants with congenital anomalies, surgical needs, and pulmonary disease. Her academic interests include ECMO, simulation education and quality improvement. She loves music, food, Razorback sports (football, basketball and baseball) and hanging out with family and friends while enjoying all of the above. She also spends most of her time away from work at youth/school sporting events cheering loudly for her kids and their teammates.

Shelley Crary, M.D.

Associate Professor

Clinical Bio

Section: Hematology-Oncology Medical School: Tulane University, New Orleans, LA Residency: Vanderbilt Univ, Nashville, AR Fellowship: UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX Dr. Crary is a Central Arkansas native who finally came back home to Little Rock in 2011 after circling the state for 20 years. She attended medical school at Tulane, pediatric residency at Vanderbilt and completed her pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship in Dallas at UT Southwestern. Dr. Crary enjoys teaching/mentoring medical students, residents, fellows and junior faculty. Her clinical and research passions cover most of benign hematology including bleeding and clotting disorders, sickle cell disease, and vascular malformations. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and animals including her husband, daughter, three dogs, one cat, and multiple chickens.

Brendan Crawford, M.D., M.S.

Section: Nephrology Medical School: University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) Residency: University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) Fellowship: University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) I joined Arkansas Children’s Hospital in July 2017 because I loved the collegial atmosphere, friendly people, and likelihood I would not have to shovel any more snow. I am an Assistant Professor in Nephrology, where I enjoy the wide variability in my day to day activities, from seeing chronic transplant or nephrotic syndrome patients in clinic to providing dialysis therapy for children with acute onset kidney failure. When not at the hospital, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two daughters, and doing anything fitness related.

Michael Israel, M.D., CAQSM

Section: Pediatric Orthopedics, Adolescent Medicine Medical School: University of South Alabama Residency: UAMS/ACH Fellowship: American Sports Medicine Institute- Birmingham, AL Dr. Israel earned his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University then his medical degree from the University of South Alabama. He completed his pediatric residency at UAMS/ACH and his sports medicine fellowship at the American Sports Medicine Institute. He serves as the Director of Sports Medicine at ACH in addition to the sports medicine advisor for the athletic programs of the Little Rock, Jacksonville, Lonoke, Pine Bluff and White Hall School Districts. When not on a sideline somewhere, he is probably driving to one of his kids’ soccer practices or on the golf course.

Elizabeth Kim, M.D.

Section: Neonatology Medical School: UAMS Residency: UAMS Fellowship: UAMS I am currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Arkansas Childrens’ Hospital (ACH) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). During my time as a practicing Neonatologist, I have developed a specific interest in breastfeeding medicine. I was appointed Assistant Director of Breastfeeding Medicine at both UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in 2020 and participate in many of the breastfeeding related quality improvement projects at both institutions. Breastfeeding advocacy, research, and education are the tools that I believe can be used to continue to improve the health of patients in my care and throughout the state of Arkansas. My husband Peter and I live in West Little Rock. We have two kiddos named Loren (15) and Ethan (13) who attend Little Rock Christian Academy and a long-haired dachshund named Cisco. Peter is a general surgeon at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock. We enjoy all things outdoors – hiking, camping, fishing, going to the lake, and duck hunting. We also enjoy traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Stephanie Korff, M.D.

Section: Neonatology Medical School: UAMS Residency: UAMS Fellowship: Medical University of South Carolina I’m a native of Little Rock so this is truly home for me. I pursued fellowship training out of state, but was so excited for the opportunity to return to UAMS and ACH to start my career. The people I get to work with were a major reason I pursued coming back to Little Rock and they are the biggest reason I love working here! In addition, as the major children’s hospital for the state, we serve as the referral center, creating a vast opportunity for learning. Working with residents and teaching them about the NICU world is a huge bonus to my job. My primary academic focus involves quality improvement, specifically antimicrobial stewardship in the NICU. When I’m not working, I love spending time with my husband and two dogs. We enjoy exploring Arkansas, going out to eat, doing puzzles, working out, and watching Marvel movies.

Rachel Millner, M.D.

Section: Pediatric Nephrology Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Residency: University of Vermont Fellowship: Nationwide Children’s Hospital (Columbus, Ohio) Dr. Millner is a graduate of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and completed residency training at University of Vermont and Nephrology fellowship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She grew up in Little Rock and decided to return to Arkansas with her family to practice pediatric nephrology in 2018. She counts herself among a select few who can get way too enthusiastic about teaching electrolyte imbalances and glomerular and tubular disorders. She has a passion for resident and medical student education and knowledge sharing. Her clinical interests are in chronic kidney disease and congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract and serves as the medical director of the Nephrology-Urology Clinic. When she is not working, she is spending time with her husband and children. She and her husband like trying to make homemade versions of commonly available premade foods and her children enjoy pointing out that the premade food is better than our homemade version.

Franscesca (Chesca) Miquel-Verges, M.D.

Section: Neonatology Medical School: Universidad La Salle Residency: Penn State Hershey Medical Center Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University Dr. Miquel-Verges is a native of Mexico City, Mexico where she went to medical school. She is a Neonatologist and serves as the associate division chief for clinical affairs and directs the neonatal transport team at ACH. She enjoys working with residents and teaching specially with simulation methods. Her academic interests include ECMO, transport medicine and quality improvement. She spends most of her time at ACH but also works in the NICU at UAMS. She loves traveling, food and coffee, hanging out with friends and reading.

Amber Morse, M.D.

Section: Emergency Medicine Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Residency: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/Arkansas Children's Hospital Fellowship: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/Arkansas Children's Hospital Dr. Morse has a passion for teaching and meeting new people. She loves her role as Associate Program Director of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship and tries to stay active with resident interaction as a Residency Advisor. Interests at work include trauma care, injury prevention and student and resident education. When she is not at work, she is most likely hanging out with her husband, Michael, exploring all the natural wonders that Arkansas has to offer. She has three dogs and is always on the lookout for the perfect fourth.

Becky Latch, M.D.

Section: Pediatric Hospital Medicine and Pharmacology/Toxicology Medical School: UAMS Residency: UAMS Dr. Latch currently serves as the Section Chief of Pediatric Hospital Medicine and the Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Pediatrics. Having spent her entire career at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, she has enjoyed watching this facility and program grow and change over the past twenty years and relishes the opportunity to take part in those changes. Dr. Latch’s academic interests include promoting compassionate family-centered care, championing diversity, equity and inclusion at UAMS and ACH and building evidence-based practice within her section and the department. She serves as the facilitator for Pediatric Grand Rounds and the physician leader for Schwartz Rounds at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. As a native Arkansan, Dr. Latch and her family enjoy all the outdoor activities the Natural State has to offer. They currently are progressing towards their goal of having visited all 52 Arkansas State Parks. They love to hike, swim and fish…. Well, honestly, she loves to read a book while her husband and sons catch the fish.

Kristin Mitchell, M.D.

Section: Pediatric Hospital Medicine Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Residency: Arkansas Children’s Hospital Dr. Mitchell received her medical degree from UAMS and completed her pediatric residency at UAMS and Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She enjoyed it so much that she stayed to complete an additional year as a Pediatric Chief Resident and is now on faculty as a Hospitalist. She enjoys caring for the acutely ill child while working and learning alongside residents and students. When not practicing medicine, you can find her spending time with her husband and 4 daughters. She enjoys good coffee, good food, and good conversations and would love to have you join her in one or all of those.

Liza Murray, M.D.

Section: Team for Children at Risk Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Residency: Arkansas Children’s Hospital/UAMS Fellowship: Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO Dr. Murray is a Child Abuse Pediatrician and the Associate Program Director for Wellness at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Equally passionate about working with at-risk children and providing mentorship and education for learners, she hopes to facilitate and encourage an environment of support at ACH. Dr. Murray always enjoys a new project and will readily involve residents in quality improvement or research efforts. Recognizing the importance of work-life balance, she also tries to practice what she preaches by spending quality time with her family and friends, including her husband and two young daughters and will find any excuse to eat out at a good restaurant.

Clare Campbell Nesmith, M.D.

Section: Neonatology Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Residency: Arkansas Children’s Hospital Pediatric hospitalist in NICU and nursery. Area of research: Opioid exposed newborns, presently working with two junior faculty and an honors nursing student in a multicenter trial Enjoy teaching students and residents. My favorite part of the job is taking care of babies during and after delivery and sending healthy babies home with their families. Hobbies: cooking, knitting, quilting, gardening and pretty much anything outdoors.

Becca Perin, M.D.

Section: General Pediatrics Medical School: University of Texas Medical School at Houston Residency: UAMS/Arkansas Children’s Hospital Dr. Perin received her medical degree from The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She completed her pediatric residency at UAMS and ACH. She is a general Pediatrician in the Circle of Friends and General Pediatric Clinics at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She has a passion for resident education, and her specific interests include child advocacy and the integration of technology and curriculum development. In particular, she has developed a mobile app-based curriculum for resident learning. She enjoys spending time with her family, running, and baking and decorating cookies.

Zackary Shearer, M.D.

Section: Assistant Professor, Neonatal Hospital Medicine Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Residency: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Dr. Shearer is a general pediatrician practicing with the Department of Neonatology at both UAMS and ACH. He trained at UAMS and ACH before serving as Chief Resident. After that, he moved to the Northern Mariana Islands and practiced for two years on the island of Saipan to pursue his interest in global health. He now lives in Little Rock with his dog, Cora.

Emily Smith, M.D.

Section: General Pediatrics and Hospital Medicine Medical School: UAMS Residency: UAMS/ACH Dr. Smith received her medical degree from UAMS before completing her pediatric residency at UAMS and ACH. After completing her residency she joined the Department of Pediatrics as faculty in the sections of Hospital Medicine and General Pediatrics. She enjoys the clinical variety and teaching opportunities of both outpatient primary care and tertiary inpatient care. Emily grew up in Little Rock and is happy to contribute to the investment of ACH and UAMS in the state by working to improve the way we deliver care to the children in Arkansas as well as training the next generation of pediatricians. She loves spending down time with friends, family and her two dogs. She loves fiction (movies, TV, or books), board games, coffee, candles, and music.

Amika Sood, M.D.

Section: Allergy and Immunology Medical School: University of Mississippi School of Medicine Residency: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital Fellowship: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Dr. Sood received her medical degree from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. She then completed her Pediatrics residency in 2015 at UAMS/ACH after which she served as Chief Resident until 2016. After completing her Allergy and Immunology Fellowship training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Sood returned to UAMS/ACH August 2019 as a member of the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. She enjoys being engaged in the education of trainees at all levels, including medical students, residents, and fellows, and is currently the Associate Program Director of the UAMS Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program. In her free time, Dr. Sood can be found hiking, trying her hand at various recipes and DIY projects, traveling, or spending quality time with family and friends.

Elizabeth Sellars, M.D.

Chief of Genetics

Clinical Bio

Associate Professor of Pediatrics - Genetics Section: Genetics and Metabolism Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Residency: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for Medical Sciences Fellowship: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for Medical Sciences I am Section Chief of Genetics and Metabolism at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). I wear many hats as the medical director of the INSTEP clinic for children with differences in sexual differentiation and development. I am also the co-medical director for the Neurofibromatosis clinic and co-director of the UAMS Genetic Counseling program. I am the medical director of the Arkansas Reproductive Health Monitoring System for birth defect tracking in Arkansas. I am from Little Rock originally but received a B.S. in Biology from Davidson College in North Carolina in 2002 and earned my medical degree from UAMS in 2007. I completed a combined residency in pediatrics and genetics from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 2012. I am dual board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and The American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics. I have been practicing at ACH for 9 years. I returned here after fellowship. For fun, I enjoy cooking, trying the many local Little Rock restaurants, traveling (in non-COVID times), and watching many different sports.

Emily Smith, M.D., FAAP

Assistant Professor

Richard Blaszak, M.D.

Chief of Nephrology

Clinical Bio

Associate Professor of Pediatric Nephrology Section: Nephrology Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine Residency: William Beaumont Army Medical Center Fellowship: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Dr. Blaszak received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine followed by a pediatric residency at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas. Before joining the medical staff of Arkansas Children’s Hospital in 1999, he completed a fellowship in Pediatric Nephrology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He currently serves as the Division Chief for Pediatric Nephrology. Dr. Blaszak enjoys teaching and mentoring residents and junior faculty and currently oversees the Pediatric Resident Advisor and Faculty Interviewer Programs. He has four children and four beautiful grandchildren. When not at work he enjoys traveling, off-grid camping, and maintaining a 17-acre homestead.