Karen Kemp dressed as a New York hot dog vendor in the Women’s Oncology Clinic.  An orthopaedics patient wore this shirt on Halloween. A cardiology nurse came dressed as UAMS’ Dr. Ibrahim Fahdi.  This pumpkin won first place in the Cancer Institute’s pumpkin carving contest. Harriet Farley won the Cancer Institute’s costume contest for her version of Sarah Palin.

Oct. 31, 2008 | Visitors to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) on Oct. 31 were greeted by some characters they probably weren’t expecting, including the Great Pumpkin, a New York hot dog vendor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, just to name a few.

The UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute celebrated Halloween in grand style with its annual costume and decorating contest, as well as its first-ever pumpkin carving contest.

First place for best costume went to social worker Harriet Farley for her version of Sarah Palin. The award for best decorations was presented to the Women’s Oncology Clinic for their rendition of a New York street scene re-created in the waiting room. Clinic staff members were dressed as a police officer, a fire fighter, a gangster, a fashion designer, a hot dog vendor and others.

First place for best pumpkin went to Susan Van Dusen of the Communications & Marketing Department.

Other Cancer Institute areas also got in on the fun, including the Myeloma Infusion Center where many of the staff members dressed as Peanuts characters and the Surgical Oncology Clinic where football players were ready to “beat cancer.”

Judges for the costume and decorating contests were KARK-TV personalities Sonseeahray Tonsall, weekend anchor; Lauren Lea, reporter; and Greg Dee, meteorologist.

Some patients got into the spirit as well. Superman could be seen in the Cancer Institute’s Dixon Waiting Room and 18-year-old Tracey Evans of Rogers, prepared for surgery at the UAMS hospital on her collarbone by arriving in a skeleton costume inscribed with the words, “Neck braces … $368, clavicle brace … $195, gas to and from Little Rock … $37, being repaired by UAMS doctors … priceless.”