Gwendolyn Bryant Smith, M.D., Named 2022 Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Auxiliary Distinguished Honoree
Event hostess and UAMS Cancer Institute board and auxiliary member Jennifer Ronnel with Dr. Bryant-Smith.
| Gwendolyn Bryant Smith, M.D., was honored Nov. 17 as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Auxiliary 2022 Distinguished Honoree at a reception at the home of Jennifer and Steve Ronnel.
Bryant-Smith, M.D., serves as chief of Breast Imaging, director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Breast Center and Mobile Mammography Program, the Breast Imaging Fellowship director in the Department of Radiology and associate director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Cancer Institute.
About 60 guests attended the event, including UAMS board members, Cancer Institute leaders and auxiliary board members.
“She is a visionary who pours her talent, heart and mind into everything she does,” said Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, the 2021 recipient. “The new breast center is the perfect example of that. She and her team worked with the architects to design a space that not only includes state-of-the-art mammography, ultrasound and other technology, but also serves as a calming space for patients.
“It’s like walking into a spa and includes an extensive collection of art by female Arkansas artists, which Gwen and Cancer Institute Board Chair Natalie Rockefeller co-curated. It’s truly remarkable,” said Patterson.
Bryant-Smith, M.D., is a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee with the Radiological Society of North America and president of the Arkansas Radiological Society. She is a radiology clinical image reviewer for the Arkansas Mammography Accreditation Program and a Cancer Institute Envoy board member. She testified before the Arkansas General Assembly in 2017, which resulted in a successful effort for insurance coverage for Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (3D Mammography) and whole breast ultrasound.
Bryant-Smith, M.D., joins the company of previous Cancer Institute Auxiliary Distinguished Honoree recipients, including Patterson; Kent Westbrook, M.D.; James Suen., M.D.; Laura Hutchins, M.D.; Ronda Henry-Tillman, M.D.; John Shaughnessy, Ph.D.; Janie Lowe; Rangaswamy Govindarajan, M.D.; Matthew Steliga, M.D.; Frits van Rhee, M.D., Ph.D.; Richard Nicholas, M.D.; Aubrey Hough, M.D.; Peter Crooks, Ph.D.; and Thomas Keiber-Emmons, Ph.D.
Cancer Institute Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year Luana Bracy (middle) with friends Barbara and Howard Hawes. Photo courtesy of Inviting Arkansas.
Also recognized at the event was Luana Bracy, the Auxiliary’s 2022 Volunteer of the Year.
The Auxiliary is the Cancer Institute’s volunteer organization dedicated to providing information, service, compassion and hope to those whose lives are touched by cancer. Gretchen Leech is the 2022 president.