The College of Medicine Class of 2019 honored the following Surgery faculty for their teaching: Avi Bhavaraju, M.D. Janina Bonwich, M.D. Ronda Henry-Tillman, M.D. Jason Mizell, M.D. Kevin Sexton, M.D. J.R. (John) Taylor, M.D. Congratulations to these stellar surgeons and educators!

Frederick “Rick” Bentley, M.D., has served as chair of the Department of Surgery since 2015. He retires this month. We gathered some farewell messages from around the department.  Thank you Dr. Bentley for your service and leadership! Residents:   Dr. Bentley: You have been a great mentor through my residency. Appreciate all you have done […]

By Susan Van Dusen When Matthew Steliga, M.D., arrived at UAMS 10 years ago, he faced an uphill battle. Lung cancer rates in the state were skyrocketing, with an estimated 2,160 Arkansans losing their lives to the disease in 2009 alone. As UAMS’ only surgeon dedicated to the treatment of lung cancer, Steliga jumped in […]

By Amy Widner Ronald Robertson, M.D, has been appointed chairman of the Department of Surgery in the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Robertson will assume the role in May upon the retirement of Frederick “Rick” Bentley, M.D., who has served as chair of the Department of Surgery since 2015. “Dr. Robertson is a […]

By Katrina Dupins Most colorectal cancers occur in the colon, the abdominal portion of the large intestine, but up to a third of cases arise in the last 6-8 inches of the bowel, known as the rectum. While more challenging to treat than colon cancer, rectal cancers often display symptoms at an earlier stage, causing […]

By Katrina Dupins Dec. 17, 2018 | On Nov. 29, 2018, John Drossopolus rode his mountain bike for the first time in more than five months. While his strength was not 100 percent, the Fort Smith man feels he is almost there. Drossopolus’ personal mantra is three-pronged and it starts with having a positive attitude. […]

Unaware that other surgical options existed, Davis agreed to the surgery and prepared to have an extensive recovery time. However, when her surgeon developed an illness and postponed her surgery at the last minute, her husband began consulting friends and colleagues about other surgeons in the area.
“The name that kept coming up was Dr. Matthew Steliga at UAMS,” Davis said.

Congratulations and profound thanks are in order for Dr. Ron Robertson, Professor and Chief of the Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery, and the entire UAMS Trauma Team. The team recently received Total Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) data that places UAMS in the top 10-20% of all Level 1 trauma centers in […]

By Katrina Dupins Nov. 28, 2018 | The pain following surgery ended up being greater than she anticipated, but Jessica Stacy says she would change it for nothing. The Morrilton mother smiles as she watches her 2-year-old son play happily with his toys, 10 days after she’d given him one of her kidneys. Stacy was 16 […]

By Susan Van Dusen Oct. 15, 2018| The year was 1961, and football season was in full swing. With her tickets in hand, University of Arkansas alumna Joyce Faulkner headed to Fayetteville to watch her beloved Razorbacks take the field. But first, she had one stop to make. A resident of Pine Bluff, Faulkner had […]