College of Medicine Recognizes Exemplary Team Members at 2023 Dean’s Honor Day
| The College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) paid tribute to outstanding faculty and staff at the college’s annual Dean’s Honor Day celebration on April 25.
Capping the ceremony, the 2023 Distinguished Faculty Service Award was presented to David L. Davies, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences who has served on the faculty for 38 years and continues to lead key educational initiatives for the college.
Department of Psychiatry colleagues Andy James, Ph.D., (center), Melissa Zielinski, Ph.D., (left) and Michael Cucciare, Ph.D., were among more than 70 faculty members honored for upcoming promotions and/or tenure. All were featured in video tributes and received rounds of applause from college leaders and other attendees.Bryan Clifton
“Dr. Davies has long been recognized as an excellent educator, scholar and colleague, and he has earned many awards from colleagues and students for his work,” said G. Richard Smith, M.D., interim dean of the college and executive vice chancellor of UAMS. “But Dr. Davies has not rested on his laurels. He continues to provide transformative service and leadership in teaching, mentoring and administration.”
“Every aspect of Dr. Davies’ leadership has been distinguished by its outstanding, well-informed and broad-based service to our educational mission,” said Gwen Childs, Ph.D., distinguished professor and chair of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, who nominated Davies for the college’s signature faculty award. “His transformational leadership over the years clearly merits this Distinguished Faculty Service Award.”
Davies thanked his mentors, colleagues and campus leaders, and he noted that some of his former students have gone on to become successful faculty members at UAMS. “It has been a privilege to learn from our eager and inquisitive students, some of whom are now in this room as valued colleagues and have been on this stage within the last hour,” Davies said. “So finally, thank you once again. I appreciate this honor.”
Physiology and Cell Biology Chair Teresita Bellido, Ph.D., (left) presents the Master Teacher Award to Professor Rosalia C.M. Simmen, Ph.D.Bryan Clifton
Davies has taught gross anatomy to thousands of freshman medical students since joining the faculty in 1985, helping to ensure foundational understanding of the human body for aspiring physicians. He was appointed course director of the Medical Gross Anatomy course in 2012 and has led the freshman Human Structure module since its inception a year later. He has served on the college’s curriculum committee and chaired the basic science education subcommittee since 2011.
In recent years, Davies has provided crucial administrative leadership for the expansion of medical education programs at the UAMS Northwest Regional Campus in Fayetteville, where he has served as interim director of the basic science curriculum since June 2021. He has mentored students at the Northwest Campus as a Compton Academic House faculty advisor since 2016.
Davies’ teaching and mentorship have garnered numerous top awards from students, colleagues and university leadership. Davies received the College of Medicine Educational Innovation Award in 2015 and the college’s Master Teacher Award and UAMS Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2016. He was a co-recipient of the Chancellor’s Excellence in Education Award in 2019. Also that year, he was invested in the Lutterloh Medical Education Excellence Professorship at UAMS.
Elena Ambrogini, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, presents the Staff Excellence Award in Administration to longtime division administrator Mark Mosby, B.S.Bryan Cllifton
Davies received his doctorate in anatomy at Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans. He trained as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver before joining the UAMS faculty.
The College of Medicine established Dean’s Honor Day in 2011 to recognize the achievements of faculty and staff across the core mission areas of education, research and clinical care, as well as excellence in humanism and service, and promotions in academic rank and tenure.
“When you attend this ceremony, you are guaranteed to learn incredible things about some of our colleagues,” Smith said in his welcome remarks for the ceremony. “It makes you realize the impact that a commitment to excellence can have.”
Pediatric Surgery colleagues Jennifer York, APRN, and Deidre Wyrick, M.D., successfully nominated one another for awards. York (left) is the inaugural winner of the Clinical Excellence – Outstanding Advanced Practice Provider Award. Wyrick (right) is the recipient of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, which is presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.Bryan Cllifton
“But Dean’s Honor Day isn’t just about presenting a handful of awards,” Smith added. “It is really about all of our team members. It’s about what all of you do, day in and day out. So thank you for all of your hard work and commitment.”
Awards were presented to faculty and staff in 16 categories in addition to the Distinguished Faculty Service Award, with nominators describing each honoree’s impact on areas of the college’s mission. Renee Bornemeier, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and associate dean for faculty affairs, served as master of ceremonies. Bornemeier presented video tributes to faculty members who are receiving promotion and/or tenure this year. In keeping with a college tradition, the videos feature favorite family, casual or professional photos of the faculty members.
View the video tribute to associate professors.
View the video tribute to professors, a new distinguished professor, and new emeritus faculty.
Click here for a list of the 2023 promotion & tenure honorees.
Watch the video recording of the ceremony here.
The College of Medicine is proud to recognize the following 2023 honorees:
Click here for photos and stories about each of the recipients below.
Staff Excellence Awards
Staff Excellence Award – Education
Kelly Hamman, LCSW
Trauma Treatment Training Specialist
Arkansas Building Effective Services for Trauma (ARBEST)
Department of Psychiatry
Staff Excellence Award – Research
Angela Kyzer, B.A.
Program Manager, Research and Evaluation Division
Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
Staff Excellence Award – Administration
Mark Mosby, B.S.
Division Administrator, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Department of Internal Medicine
Residency Educator Awards
Residency Educator – Program Coordinator
Stephanie Veach, B.A.
Program Coordinator, Pediatric Fellowship Programs:
Hematology Oncology, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Child Abuse, Hospital Medicine
Residency Educator – Program Director
Mollie Meek, M.D.
Professor, Department of Radiology
Director, Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency
Faculty Awards in Education, Research and Humanism
Master Teacher Award
Rosalia C.M. Simmen, Ph.D.
Professor and Co-Vice Chair of Education
Director, Graduate Program Cell Biology and Physiology Track
Department of Physiology and Cell Biology
Educational Innovation Award
Leslie Stone, M.D., MPH
Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
William Ventres, M.D., M.A.
Associate Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
Presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation
Deidre Wyrick, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Critical Care Medicine
Trauma Medical Director, Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Excellence in Research Award
Paul Drew, Ph.D.
Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences
Professor and Director of Research, Department of Neurology
Assistant Dean for Research, College of Medicine
Clinical Excellence Awards
Outstanding Advanced Practice Provider
Jennifer York, APRN, MNsc, CPNP-AC
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Division of Pediatric Surgery and Trauma
Arkansas Children’s Hospital and UAMS
Excellence in Quality and Safety
Zachary Lewis, M.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Emergency Ultrasound
Department of Emergency Medicine
Excellence in Service and Professionalism
Konstantinos Arnaoutakis, M.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology
Program Director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program
Department of Internal Medicine
Best Consulting Physician
Samidha Tripathi, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Director, Consultation-Liaison Service
Psychiatric Research Institute
Collaborations and Teamwork
Patient Care, Laboratory Diagnostic and Antimicrobial Stewardship Project Team
Eric R. Rosenbaum, M.D., MPH
Katherine T. Lusardi, Pharm.D., BCIDP
Ryan K. Dare, M.D.
Juan Carlos Rico, M.D.
Nicole M. Emery, M(ASCP)
Brett J. Bailey, Pharm.D.
Rising Star Clinical Faculty
Joseph Henske, M.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Director, UAMS Diabetes Program
Department of Internal Medicine
Physician of the Year
Thomas Kiser, M.D., MPH
Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation