College of Medicine


May 24, 2021

College of Medicine Honors Dean Christopher Westfall, M.D., and Outstanding Faculty, Staff

Yavonda Chase

College of Medicine Dean Christopher T. Westfall, M.D., is presented the Distinguished Faculty Service Award by UAMS Provost and Chief Academic Officer Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., at the college’s Dean’s Honor Day ceremony. The signature honor of the college is commemorated with an art glass bowl created by Arkansas artist James Hayes.

The College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recognized exemplary faculty and staff at its annual Dean’s Honor Day awards ceremony on May 17, capping the event with a surprise tribute to retiring Dean and UAMS Executive Vice Chancellor Christopher T. Westfall, M.D.


May 20, 2021

Riney Foundation Gives $1.8 Million to UAMS Myeloma Center in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute

Benjamin Waldrum

The Paula and Rodger Riney Foundation's gift will support multiple myeloma research at the UAMS Myeloma Center.

LITTLE ROCK — The Paula and Rodger Riney Foundation announced a gift of $1.8 million to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Myeloma Center in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute to fund multiple myeloma research. “Paula and I are pleased to invest in the UAMS Myeloma Center, which has made great strides…


May 19, 2021

UAMS Staff Collaborate to Hold Virtual Training for Medical Students’ Transition to Intern Practice

Linda Haymes

Veronica Ussery (on screen) is joined with (front right) Karen J. Dickinson, M.D.; (second row, left to right) Patti Griffey, a simulated patient, and Sherry Johnson; and (third row, left to right) Jerry Halpain, Andrew Warr, simulated patient, Margaret Glasgow, Matthew Spond, M.D., and another simulated patient.

UAMS turned its annual Rising Intern Preparation Week into a virtual affair this year in order to prepare the entire fourth-year medical student class for intern life. Typically, UAMS holds Rising Intern Preparation Week in late April. Last year, when COVID-19 arrived in Arkansas six weeks before the training was set to occur, organizers had…


May 18, 2021

Rhee, Tilford Receive Chancellor’s Teaching Awards

Spencer Watson

Mick Tilford, Ph.D., Chancellor Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, and Sung Rhee, Ph.D.

Sung W. Rhee, Ph.D., and J. Mick Tilford, Ph.D., are the recipients of the 2021 Chancellor’s Teaching Awards, a program established in 2004 to recognize excellence in teaching among UAMS faculty. “Sung and Mick are tremendous assets to UAMS, respected by colleagues and students alike, who advance scholarship and the academic mission of UAMS every…


May 17, 2021

American Thyroid Association Honors Spyridoula Maraka, M.D., with National Thyroid Research Award

Karmen Robinson

Spyridoula Maraka, M.D. wide

LITTLE ROCK — Spyridoula Maraka, M.D., M.S., an assistant professor in the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), is one of three women nationwide to receive the 2020 Women Advancing Thyroid Research Award from the American Thyroid Association (ATA). The award recognizes and honors women who are leading outstanding…


May 15, 2021

UAMS Graduates 936 Health Care Professionals

Spencer Watson

College of Pharmacy faculty present candidates for graduation as students attend remotely.

LITTLE ROCK – Degrees and certificates were conferred to 936 graduates of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) five colleges and graduate school today. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, no commencement ceremony was held; however, the various colleges held independent virtual commemorations this month. Degrees were awarded to 177 in the College…


May 10, 2021

Four Vice Chairs Named in UAMS Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Spencer Watson

David Bumpass, M.D., Steve Cherney, M.D., Simon Mears, M.D., Ph.D., and Theresa Wyrick, M.D.

LITTLE ROCK — Four faculty leaders within the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine have been appointed as vice chairs within the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. David Bumpass, M.D., has been named the vice chair for research; Steven Cherney, M.D., has been named the vice chair for education; Simon Mears, M.D.,…


NIH Grant Supporting UAMS Study of Drugs to Improve Long-term Kidney Transplant Outcomes

David Robinson

UAMS' Nirmala Parajuli, Ph.D., is studying a novel way to improve long-term kidney transplant survival.

LITTLE ROCK — A National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant will allow UAMS researcher Nirmala Parajuli, DVM, Ph.D., to study a novel way to improve the long-term outcomes of patients who receive kidneys from deceased donors. Parajuli, an assistant professor in the College of Medicine Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, will use the five-year $2.46…


May 7, 2021

UAMS Physician’s New Skills and Lucky Timing Save Vilonia Baby from Deadly, Disabling Disease

David Robinson

Darrell and Elaine Hurst with their two sons, Oliver (left) and Paxton. Oliver was born last year with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a disease that could have killed him if not for a newborn screening implemented by UAMS’ Kapil Arya, M.D., and a new treatment.

Oliver Hurst owes his life to a luckily timed move across the country. His father and mother, who was then three months pregnant with Oliver, arrived in Vilonia from California in March 2020. At the time, UAMS’ Kapil Arya, M.D., was developing strategies as a UAMS Translational Research Institute Implementation Science Scholar to establish statewide…


May 3, 2021

American Heart Association’s Sweethearts Learn About Heart From UAMS Experts

Linda Satter

Kevin Phelan, Ph. D., talks to AHA Sweethearts as a medical resident waits on bed behind him to help him demonstrate an ultrasound.

About 35 high school sophomores who are part of the American Heart Association’s Sweetheart Program got a close look into the inner workings of the heart in a virtual session April 26 at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). The Sweethearts are high school sophomores who, over several months, learn about heart-healthy lifestyles…



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