Myeloma Center


December 20, 2024

Myeloma Survivor Rides to Raise Money, Inspire Others

Nathan Tidwell

David Sutton

More than 20 years after his initial myeloma diagnosis, David Sutton continues to express his gratitude for the care he’s received at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and display an unwavering desire to help those in a similar situation. “I have greatly benefited from the…


July 18, 2024

Little Rock Subaru Delivers Blankets for UAMS Blood Cancer Patients

Nathan Tidwell

Subaru Blanket Donation

Blood cancer patients at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute received a little more assistance going through their journey, thanks to Subaru of Little Rock and the Arkansas Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Subaru of Little Rock delivered 80 blankets and 30 patient care kits to the UAMS Patient…


July 5, 2024

Hot Springs Village Couple Grateful to Myeloma Center

Nathan Tidwell

Tom Heau, Deb Heau

Tom and Deb Heau have come a long way together. “I couldn’t have made it without Deb, she’s the guardian angel,” said Tom Heau, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2018. Deb Heau describes the day they found out about her husband’s illness. “It was March 1, 2018. Tom came home and said, ‘I…


May 10, 2024

Myeloma Patient Writes About Her ‘Ordinary Journey’

Nathan Tidwell

Vicki Wicker

Creative works have their beginnings in various ways. For multiple myeloma survivor Vicki C. Wicker, Ph.D., it was the loss of a loved one and social media. “My mom passed away around two years before my diagnosis,” said Wicker. “Every Sunday I would write something on Facebook with a short scripture and a few paragraphs…


February 23, 2024

UAMS Myeloma Patient Grateful for ‘Life Changing’ Treatment

Nathan Tidwell

Jim and Laurie Schepers.

Jim Schepers remembers getting a call he didn’t want in April 2020. The call was from Frits van Rhee, M.D., Ph.D., clinical director of the Myeloma Center at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Schepers’ physician — cancer had returned. “When we found out the cancer was back, Dr. van Rhee called…


December 15, 2023

Nurse Passionate About Success, Impact of UAMS Myeloma Center

Kev' Moye

Heather Brown, APRN

Heather Brown, APRN, a nurse practitioner for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s Myeloma Center, appreciates the opportunity to serve the patients. A 2001 graduate of the UAMS College of Nursing, Brown quickly learned about myeloma as the center opened shortly after she was hired by the institute….


Intake Team Serves as Source of Comfort for Myeloma Center Patients

Chris Carmody

(Left to right) Christy Bunting, Amy Ford, Melissa Thomas, April Thomas.

For new patients of the UAMS Myeloma Center, the intake process provides their first impression of the support they’ll receive during a difficult period of their lives. “It’s important that we help them get established and make sure they’re comfortable coming here,” said Christy Bunting, an intake coordinator in the Myeloma Center. “We want them…


UAMS Myeloma Researcher Sees‘ Impressive’ Results in Clinical Trials of Bispecific Antibody Treatments

David Robinson

Carolina Schinke, M.D.

Many patients at the UAMS Myeloma Center have relapsed refractory myeloma, meaning they have nearly run out of effective treatment options. Fortunately, the center has talented clinical researchers like Carolina Schinke, M.D., with access to the latest medications, including promising study drugs. Schinke is leading a clinical trial at UAMS of a promising new bispecific…


December 14, 2023

New Immune Therapies Provide Promising Advances in Myeloma Care

News Staff

Frits van Rhee, MD, Ph.D.

By Frits van Rhee, MD, Ph.D. Since the late 1990s, 16 drugs have been approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma, including proteasome inhibitors, such as bortezomib and carfilzomib, and the immunomodulatory class of agents comprising thalidomide, lenalidomide and pomalidomide. Immune therapy with the antibody daratumumab was first approved in 2015. These three classes of…


Expanding the Field: Clinical Trials Diversity Benefits Myeloma Research

Nathan Tidwell

Samer Al Hadidi, M.D.

Clinical trials have long been an established part of medical research. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Myeloma Center and the Clinical Trials Office work together to create a more diverse pool of clinical trial participants in the continuing research of multiple myeloma. Samer Al Hadidi, M.D., is a driving force in this…



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