Jim and Pat Wallis Pledge $500,000 to Establish a Professorship in Radiation Oncology at UAMS

By Andrew Vogler

LITTLE ROCK — James “Jim” Wallis and Patricia “Pat” Wallis pledged $500,000 to create the James and Patricia Wallis Professorship in Radiation Oncology in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine’s Department of Radiation Oncology.

“I want to thank Jim and Pat Wallis for their continued support of UAMS — through their philanthropy, they have shown their belief in this institution and a commitment to the people of Arkansas,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “A professorship is a profoundly beneficial instrument at the disposal of a department, supporting activities that advance the mission of UAMS. I hope Jim and Pat know that this will help many people well into the future.”

The gift was made to support the Future of UAMS and was inspired by Jim Wallis’s tumor treatment using proton therapy at the Proton Center in Oklahoma City. The professorship holder will be a faculty member of the Department of Radiation Oncology, elected by the chair of the department with approval by the dean of the College of Medicine.

Jim and Pat Wallis Pledge $500,000 to Establish a Professorship in Radiation Oncology at UAMS

Jim Wallis served as chairman, president and CEO of ExOK Inc., a company he founded in 1979, serving as chairman, president and CEO.

UAMS Medical Center Only Hospital in Greater Little Rock Area to Receive ‘A’ Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

By Yavonda Chase

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Medical Center earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit that awards letter grades to general hospitals around the country based on more than 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems that hospitals have in place to prevent them.

UAMS was one of six hospitals in Arkansas to receive an “A” ranking, and it was the only one in the Greater Little Rock region.

“I am personally thrilled by this ranking because it represents the importance that we at UAMS put on safety, which is one of our core values,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “We are committed to improving the health of all Arkansans, and providing our patients with safe and effective health care is key to fulfilling our mission.”

UAMS Medical Center Only Hospital in Greater Little Rock Area to Receive ‘A’ Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

The UAMS Medical Center earned earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group.

ARPQC Launches Website to Provide Information About Maternity Care Services, Initiatives

By David Wise

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ARPQC), a partnership launched last year between the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), the Arkansas Department of Health and 34 birthing hospitals across the state, launched its new website recently, creating a hub for patients and health care providers alike to access pivotal information related to maternal health care in Arkansas.

The site, arpqc.org, houses information about the collaborative, provides education to help patients make informed health care decisions and includes resources for health care providers.

The ARPCQ’s mission is to decrease maternal morbidity and mortality in Arkansas. Between 2018 and 2020, 38 women in Arkansas died from pregnancy-related causes. According to the state’s review panel of medical experts, more than 90% of these deaths were potentially preventable.

ARPQC Launches Website to Provide Information About Maternity Care Services, Initiatives

UAMS College of Medicine Celebrates Excellence at 2024 Dean’s Honor Day

By Tamara Robinson

The College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) celebrated the excellence of faculty and staff at its annual Dean’s Honor Day ceremony on April 16, presenting awards for teaching, clinical care, research, administration, humanism and service.

The ceremony culminated with the presentation of the Dean’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award to Eduardo R. “Eddie” Ochoa Jr., M.D., a professor in the Department of Pediatrics who has strived to improve the health and quality of life of children in Arkansas and nationally since joining the faculty in 1999. In addition to pediatrics-focused leadership, Ochoa’s service has included impactful roles such as helping the college identify and select promising future physicians as a multi-term member and chair of the college’s medical student admissions committee.

Ochoa’s nominator, Chenia Eubanks, M.D., MPH, associate professor and chief of the Section of Community Pediatrics, described the former section chief as a “fierce, steely advocate for children, their health and their future.” She noted Ochoa’s work in research, advocacy and policy work, as well as clinical care, to reduce disparities and eliminate barriers to good health.

UAMS College of Medicine Celebrates Excellence at 2024 Dean’s Honor Day

Eduardo R. “Eddie” Ochoa Jr., M.D., winner of the Dean’s Distinguished Faculty Service Award, thanks colleagues and congratulates fellow award recipients at the UAMS College of Medicine 2024 Dean’s Honor Day ceremony. Image by Bryan Clifton

UAMS Hosts Statewide Conference to Showcase Advances in Nursing Research

By Chris Carmody

Nurses and nursing students from across the state gathered April 5 on the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) campus for a conference that highlighted recent advances in research.

Organized by the UAMS College of Nursing and the UAMS Office of Continuing Education, the 2024 Arkansas Nursing Research Day conference focused on the theme of “Nurses as Active Drivers of Positive Change in Health Care.” The event featured a mix of podium and poster presentations from students and nursing professionals who are striving to improve health outcomes through research and evidence-based projects.

Janiece Taylor, Ph.D., RN, assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, served as guest speaker for the conference’s morning keynote session, giving a lecture on equity in pain management. She started her speech by asking attendees whether they had ever experienced pain, drawing a show of raised hands throughout the auditorium.

UAMS Hosts Statewide Conference to Showcase Advances in Nursing Research

Nicholas Odom, associate professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, delivers a guest lecture during the afternoon session of the Arkansas Nursing Research Day conference. Image by Bryan Clifton

UAMS Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Child Development Center in Little Rock

By Chris Carmody

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today for the UAMS Child Development Center in Little Rock, a 20,000-square-foot facility that is scheduled to open in early May.

The center will provide services for about 200 children, from infancy through prekindergarten, of UAMS employees and students. Of those slots, 10% are reserved for the children of employees who live in the surrounding community, and another 10% go to workers or students who qualify for Child Care Development Fund vouchers through the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

Access to high-quality child care has long been identified as a need for UAMS employees. Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., UAMS provost and chief strategy officer, said the UAMS Child Development Center will provide a safe and welcoming place where children can learn, thrive and have fun.

UAMS Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Child Development Center in Little Rock

Stephanie Gardner, UAMS provost and chief strategy officer, cuts the ribbon at a ceremony to celebrate the UAMS Child Development Center, which is scheduled to open in early May. Image by Bryan Clifton

KIDNEYcon 2024 Focuses on the Present and Future of Nephrology

By Nathan Tidwell

More than 100 faculty, internal medicine residents, nephrologists and nephrology fellows came together April 6-8 for the ninth annual KIDNEYcon.

Sponsored by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine’s Division of Nephrology, the event consisted of lectures, a reception, scientific and clinical sessions, and workshops. The event was held on the UAMS campus and at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Little Rock.

“We have a lot of junior nephrologists, medical students, fellows, residents and faculty who attend, along with more senior nephrologists,” said John Arthur, M.D., Ph.D., professor and director of the Division of Nephrology. “They get to do things here they can’t do anywhere else.”

KIDNEYcon 2024 Focuses on the Present and Future of Nephrology

Tiffany Huitt, Ph.D., speaks with attendees during a workshop as part of KIDNEYcon 2024. Image by Nathan Tidwell

Anuradha Kunthur, M.D., Joins UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute

By Marty Trieschmann

Anuradha Kunthur, M.D., has joined the Division of Hematology Oncology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, where she treats patients with blood cancers and other hematological disorders.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Kunther decided to join us after completing her fellowship at UAMS, said Ahmed Abuabdou, M.D., MBA, chief clinical officer for UAMS Medical Center and director of cancer service line. “She is a great addition to our team, and our patients will benefit from her excellent and compassionate care.”

Kunthur is accepting new patients; please call (501) 296-1200 for an appointment.

Anuradha Kunthur, M.D., Joins UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute

Anuradha Kunthur, M.D., has joined the Division of Hematology Oncology at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, where she treats patients with blood cancers and other hematological disorders. Image by Bryan Clifton

Arkansas woman pleads guilty in stolen body parts case

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

An Arkansas woman who stole human body parts from the mortuary where she worked has pleaded guilty.

Candance Chapman Scott sold over $10,000 worth of human remains to a man on Facebook over a two-year period. On Thursday, Scott admitted to two charges against her in federal court. She was initially indicted on April 5 of this year.

Scott pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property. Through her lawyer, she asked the government to drop the other counts they listed in their indictment. As part of the plea, she admitted to stealing body parts and fetal remains. Scott has agreed to pay back the money she received selling body parts. Additionally, she could go to prison for up to 30 years and could face fines up to $500,000.

Arkansas woman pleads guilty in stolen body parts case

UAMS

Candace Chapman Scott admitted to taking cadavers from UAMS and selling them to someone she met on Facebook.

Experts Share New Treatments, Solutions for Parkinson’s Patients, Caregivers

By Linda Satter

New treatments for Parkinson’s disease, including drugs that researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have been working on for years, will finally become available in pharmacies this year, Rohit Dhall, M.D., predicted at the recent Ninth Annual Parkinson’s Symposium at UAMS.

Dhall, who is also the medical director of the UAMS Clinical Trials Innovation Unit, said most of the novel therapies are designed to help patients control motor symptoms although UAMS neurologists are continuing research trials to slow the progression of the disease.

Addressing live and virtual audiences from a stage at the UAMS Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, he provided an update on a randomized clinical trial for which UAMS was a site, designed to test the effectiveness of the diabetes drug exenatide as a potential disease-modifying drug in Parkinson’s patients. Despite some initially positive signs, the trial did not show improved course of Parkinson’s disease after 48 weeks of receiving drug compared to those who received a placebo.

Experts Share New Treatments, Solutions for Parkinson’s Patients, Caregivers

Rohit Dhall, M.D., chair of the UAMS Department of Neurology, discusses Parkinson's disease. Neurosurgeon Erika Petersen, M.D., who founded the annual Parkinson's Symposium, is in the background.

APhA Annual Meeting Recognizes College of Pharmacy Students, Alumni with Awards

By Benjamin Waldrum

UAMS College of Pharmacy students and alumni received multiple awards this year at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) annual meeting, held March 22-25 in Orlando.

The APhA-Academy of Student Pharmacists (ASP) awards and honors program is the most comprehensive recognition program for students in the profession of pharmacy.

“Both our students and alumni have a strong track record for exceptional professional advocacy, scholarship and patient care, which these awards affirm,” said Cindy Stowe, Pharm.D., dean of the College of Pharmacy. “Building a legacy of excellence begins during their time as students and continues on into their long and successful careers. I am so incredibly proud of all their accomplishments.”

APhA Annual Meeting Recognizes College of Pharmacy Students, Alumni with Awards

The UAMS College of Pharmacy's APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists chapter received the national Division AA Chapter of the Year award. This is the eighth time UAMS has won in its division. From left to right: Hayden Wood, Mary Kate Record, Kerigan Bradshaw, Jenae Powell, Olgaaurora Rodriguez, Erik Hsu, Chris Johnson, Pharm.D., M.Ed.

Fort Smith Retiree Heading to Disney World after Successful Proton Therapy for Brain Tumors

By Marty Trieschmann

In November 2023, Malinda Larey, 67, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was all set to jump on the retirement travel bandwagon when she was unexpectedly diagnosed with atypical meningioma.

Meningiomas are tumors that grow from the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Patients can have a range of symptoms — from none to severe seizures, headaches and changes in vision, smell or hearing. Only about 15-20% of meningiomas are atypical, which means the tumors cells are neither cancerous nor benign but may become malignant at some point.

“It was inside and outside of my skull and just grew bigger and bigger,” Larey recalls of the fast-growing mass that had formed at the base of her skull.

Meningiomas are more common in older women, though the cause is unknown.

Fort Smith Retiree Heading to Disney World after Successful Proton Therapy for Brain Tumors

“Watching the care that the Proton Center provided to all the patients experiencing so much struggle in their lives gave me so much confidence that this was the place I needed to be. " Image by Evan Lewis

Nine UAMS Physicians Named Healthcare Research All-Stars

By Linda Satter

LITTLE ROCK — Nine current and former physicians at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have been named Healthcare Research All-Stars for 2024 by Avant-garde Health.

Additionally, it placed the UAMS Hip and Knee surgery team among the top 1% of hip and knee surgeons nationwide, the orthopaedic surgery team among the top 3% nationwide, and both the gastrointestinal and general surgery teams at UAMS among the top 5% nationwide.

The technology and analytics company helps health systems, surgery centers and physicians improve their care. This was its inaugural annual evaluation of the quality and quantity of medical research published by 90,000 physicians at 4,000 hospitals across 10 specialties. It recognizes health care research published during 2021 and 2022.

Nine UAMS Physicians Named Healthcare Research All-Stars

Pictured clockwise from upper left: C. Lowry Barnes, M.D.; Jeffrey Stambough, M.D.; Benjamin Stronach, M.D.; Emmanouil Giorgakis, M.D., Subhi Al'Aref, M.D.; and Sumant Inamdar, M.D.

Judd Hill Foundation Pledges $1 Million to Support UAMS Northeast Regional Campus, Cancer Patients

By Andrew Vogler

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) announced today in Jonesboro that the Judd Hill Foundation has pledged $1 million to establish the Judd Hill Foundation Fund for Excellence in support of the UAMS Northeast Regional Campus and cancer patients in the region.

“I would like to thank the Judd Hill Foundation for its continued support of UAMS, helping us to advance the most critical initiatives of the institution,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “This support of UAMS’ mission-critical work will leave a legacy that will endure well into the future and will have a profound impact on the lives of the people in Northeast Arkansas.”

The Judd Hill Foundation Fund for Excellence will invest in the Northeast Regional Campus’ highest priorities including support for education, research, clinical care and campus improvements. The funds will also be used by UAMS to provide additional support for cancer patients in the Delta, helping connect them with resources and care providers in their region. The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute is on the path to achieving National Cancer Institute Designation and increasing outreach to patients in rural areas is a major goal in that process.

Judd Hill Foundation Pledges $1 Million to Support UAMS Northeast Regional Campus, Cancer Patients

Richard Turnage, M.D., Amy Jo Jenkins, M.S., Mike Gibson, J.D., Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, and Scott Dickson, M.D., were in attendance at the press conference.

NIH Awards UAMS Researchers $2.27 Million to Study Estrogen’s Role in Preventing Bone Loss

By David Robinson

LITTLE ROCK — Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will use a $2.27 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to answer key questions about the cellular mechanisms used by estrogen to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis.

The five-year NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) R01 grant is led by co-principal investigators Maria Schuller Almeida, Ph.D., and Ha-Neui (Hans) Kim, Ph.D. Almeida is a professor in the College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, as well as the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Kim is an assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Aging and estrogen deficiency are major causes of osteoporosis and lead to a higher risk for bone fractures particularly in women.

NIH Awards UAMS Researchers $2.27 Million to Study Estrogen’s Role in Preventing Bone Loss

UAMS’ Maria Schuller Almeida, Ph.D. (left), and Ha-Neui (Hans) Kim, Ph.D., will use new funding from the National Institutes of Health to answer key questions about estrogen’s important role in preventing bone loss.

UAMS Jones Eye Institute Advises Eye Protection for April Eclipse

By Benjamin Waldrum

Proper eye protection is highly important when viewing an eclipse, said experts at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute.

On April 8, the continental United States will be treated to a total eclipse of the sun. This amazing phenomenon will be the first total eclipse to cross Arkansas since 1918. The path of totality, where the sun is completely covered by the moon, will last a little over two minutes in Little Rock and up to twice as long in the southwestern corner of the state.

“This amazing phenomenon is worth seeing, but you need proper eye protection to see it safely,” said Katie Brown, O.D., an optometrist with the Jones Eye Institute.

UAMS Jones Eye Institute Advises Eye Protection for April Eclipse

UAMS Oral Health Clinic on Display at Open House

UAMS provost, chief academic officer and chief strategy officer Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., chats with staff.Image by Nathan Tidwell

By Nathan Tidwell

The Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation Oral Health Clinic at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently welcomed visitors at an open house.

The Oral Health Clinic staff handed out oral hygiene supplies and spoke with the many guests who came through.

“The UAMS Oral Health Clinic is a tremendous asset not only to our patients and staff but also to the community,” said Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., UAMS provost, chief academic officer and chief strategy officer. “It’s an important aspect of our mission.”

The clinic celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 2023. An expansion added 3,490 square feet to bring the clinic’s total square footage to 12,800. The clinic went from 11 to 15 dental hygiene operatories, which are able to support three full-time hygienists.

UAMS Oral Health Clinic on Display at Open House

College of Medicine Class of 2024 Gathers on Gray Day for Colorful Match Day Celebration

By Linda Satter

The rain and fog outside didn’t dampen the bright smiles inside as students from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) College of Medicine Class of 2024 gathered March 15 in downtown Little Rock for its Match Day celebration.

Inside a second-story ballroom in Robinson Center, where the Broadway Bridge over the Arkansas River loomed large through glass walls, tension began filling the air at about 10:30 a.m., as seniors, sitting among family and friends, awaited the arrival of 11 a.m.

That’s when the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) would release results showing which of  44,853 budding medical doctors, doctors of osteopathic medicine and graduates of foreign medical schools had matched to just 38,494 available residencies in the United States. The NRMP uses an algorithm to match the ranked lists of seniors and institutions, following weeks of applications and interviews.

College of Medicine Class of 2024 Gathers on Gray Day for Colorful Match Day Celebration

Meredith Ott, Tara Bates and Kristen Stringfellow show off their matches.

Venture Center, UAMS BioVentures launch healthcare accelerator

KUAR | By Talk Business & Politics Staff

From Talk Business & Politics:

UAMS’ BioVentures has launched the ACTIVE Program in partnership with Little Rock-based The Venture Center to give socially and economically disadvantaged innovators (SEDI) in healthcare and technology opportunities to develop businesses.

Interested entrepreneurs are invited to apply at bioventures.tech/active before April 15.

This initiative aims to enhance health outcomes throughout Arkansas, creating an environment for the growth of innovative ideas and entrepreneurs. It aims to position Arkansas as a key center for healthcare solutions, backing early-stage companies with the potential to influence markets both locally and globally.

Venture Center, UAMS BioVentures launch healthcare accelerator

UAMS.Edu/UAMS

UAMS Health Family Medical Center Celebrates Grand Opening in El Dorado

By Chris Carmody

March 27, 2024 | The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to celebrate the grand opening of the UAMS Health Family Medical Center in El Dorado.

Tiffany Lucas, APRN (from left); Martha Garrett-Shaver, M.D.; Joseph DeLuca, M.D.; Donya Watson, M.D.; and Julie Wylie, APRN, are now seeing patients at the UAMS Health Family Medical Center.Image by Evan Lewis

The Family Medical Center is located at 620 W. Grove St., Suite 202, in the former home of the South Arkansas Physician Group clinic. The clinic’s team of providers — Joseph DeLuca, M.D.; Martha Garrett-Shaver, M.D.; Tiffany Lucas, APRN; and Julie Wylie, APRN — has joined UAMS Health and will see existing patients as well as new ones. Donya Watson, M.D., will offer primary care services at the Family Medical Center while continuing to see OB-GYN patients at the nearby South Arkansas Women’s Clinic.

The UAMS Health Family Medical Center opened to patients March 19. The center is a comprehensive primary care facility, offering services such as:

• Annual checkups and preventive care

• Urgent care for minor injuries and unexpected illnesses

• Ongoing care for medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease

• Vaccinations

• Specialized care for pregnant women and for new moms and babies

• Pediatric care

• School and sports physicals

UAMS Health Family Medical Center Celebrates Grand Opening in El Dorado

Cam Patterson, chancellor of UAMS and CEO of UAMS Health, and Danna Taylor, president of South Arkansas Regional Hospital, cut the ribbon at the new UAMS Health Family Medical Center in El Dorado. Image by Evan Lewis