Cancer Featured Stories

All Slots for Prestigious Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Filled by UAMS Residents

June 13, 2017 | Two residents from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have been selected for a prestigious fellowship in neuro-oncology administered jointly by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health Neuro-Oncology Branch.

A maximum of two fellows per year are selected for the program, and this year, both are from UAMS.

Carlos Romo, M.D., co-chief resident physician; and Orwa Aboud, M.D., Ph.D., will complete their residencies in the Department of Neurology in the UAMS College of Medicine in June and begin their fellowships in July.

The fellowship provides advanced training for neurosurgeons, radiation therapists, medical and pediatric oncologists and neurologists to prepare them for academic careers in neuro-oncology. The experience is tailored individually to the needs of the fellow. Both Romo and Aboud will spend three years expanding both their research and clinical experience through courses, research projects, mentoring and clinical rotations.

“It is extremely prestigious for us to have not just one of the two, but both,” said Robert L. “Lee” Archer, M.D., professor and interim chairman of the Department of Neurology. “Their selection says a lot about the level of residents we are producing. Dr. Romo and Dr. Aboud have done outstanding work during their time here, and I would also like to credit their adviser, Dr. Shirley Ong, and our residency director, Dr. Kinshuk Sahaya, for contributing to their success.”

Ong, M.D., said that both have unique skillsets to offer their patients and expand the future of neuro-oncology.

“There are very few good neuro-oncology fellowship training programs in the U.S., and they are extremely competitive,” Ong said. “Neuro-oncology is a small field and requires hard work and a strong fortitude, and I had zero hesitation in recommending Drs. Aboud and Romo to the Johns Hopkins/NIH fellowship program. I know they will represent UAMS well.”

Romo is from Aguascalientes, Mexico, and earned his medical degree at Tec de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. Sahaya, M.D., described him as a dynamic and multifaceted resident whose teaching ability is appreciated by students and faculty alike. For example, Romo helped Sahaya redesign part of the neurology residency curriculum. Ong described him as a leader who sets goals and accomplishes them.

Romo said his time at UAMS exposed him to a wide variety of patients, especially because of UAMS’ partnerships with Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. He is looking forward to expanding his experiences even further.

“This fellowship, unlike any other in the country, provides the fellows with access to two different institutions that are leaders in the field,” Romo said. “Faculty members at Johns Hopkins and NIH are recognized worldwide for their contributions in the area of neuro-oncology. NIH also offers opportunities for collaboration between basic and clinical scientists, and particularly among scientists across other disciplines. This collaboration creates a nurturing environment for the development of ideas that can improve outcomes for patients with cancer of the nervous system.”

Aboud is from Swaida, Syria. He attended medical school at the University of Damascus in Syria and graduate school at UAMS. Sahaya described him as an outstanding resident and researcher and a skilled physician. He is a great team leader who is loved by colleagues, faculty, students and patients alike. His research is already garnering him top honors. Ong said Aboud is extremely compassionate and goes above-and-beyond with his patients.

Aboud said that early in his neurology residency, he took part in a neuro-oncology rotation that exposed him to how big the impact of basic and clinical research can be on patients’ treatment options and quality of life. He values the fact that both the UAMS residency and the NIH/Johns Hopkins fellowship give him both research and clinical exposure.

“The field of neuro-oncology is about giving patients options for a better quality of life, longer survival, and, hopefully, a cure,” Aboud said. “In preparation for my career as a neuro-oncologist, this training is essential to gain a broad knowledge of the science of brain tumor development and the scientific strategies used in the development of the next generation of treatment. As a clinician scientist, my goal is to achieve a more immediate and positive impact on my patients’ lives.”

The UAMS Neurology Residency is a four-year program open to students who already have a medical degree and are looking for advanced training in neurology. Residents can then move on to become practicing neurologists or pursue additional specialized training through fellowships, like Romo and Aboud.

“Both are very different in their interests and approach, and they exemplify the diversity of our learning approach, both culturally and academically,” Sahaya said. “It’s our goal to provide a supportive environment for our residents where they can both learn the essentials and develop their own interests while we assist them in that process. We support our residents in all career choices, from general to specialized neurology. These two are just another example of the careers we hope to nurture with our residency.”

For more information, visit neurology.uams.edu.

Cancer Diagnosis Yields Big Surprise for New Mom

Read the Spanish version of this story here.

June 7, 2017 | If the circumstances surrounding Angel Castillo’s birth are any indication, his life will be full of surprises.

It was during a routine gynecological exam in January 2016 when Angel’s mom, Carmen Martinez, got some very unexpected news: She had cervical cancer. As a new mom to her then-6-month-old son, Santiago, Martinez feared the worst.

“I thought, what if I die and leave my baby,” she said.

Martinez was quickly scheduled for a consultation with UAMS gynecologic oncologist Alexander “Sandy” Burnett, M.D., who recommended she undergo a radical trachelectomy. This surgical procedure would remove the cancer but leave her uterus intact, allowing Martinez to have more children in the future if she chose. Burnett is a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the UAMS College of Medicine.

A native Spanish speaker, Martinez used medical interpreters from the ANGELS program during her visits to UAMS. ANGELS (Antenatal and Neonatal Guidelines, Education and Learning System) is a program of the UAMS Center for Distance Health aimed at helping woman at high risk for complicated pregnancies receive the best possible care.

On the appointed day, Martinez and her husband, Luis Castillo, arrived at the UAMS hospital where she began being prepped for surgery. It wasn’t long, however, when she was told the procedure had to be postponed due to another unexpected surprise. A routine urine test had revealed she was pregnant.

“When they told me I was pregnant, I couldn’t believe it. Dr. Burnett sent me home to think about what I wanted to do next. I felt a little joy about the new baby, but also a lot of fear,” she said.

Together, Martinez and Castillo decided to continue with the pregnancy under the watchful eye of Burnett at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and Dawn Hughes, M.D., a fellow in the UAMS Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship program.

During her medical residency at UAMS, Hughes trained under Burnett, who is board-certified in gynecologic oncology. Martinez’s case allowed the two to work closely again, this time to develop a personalized treatment plan for their patient.

According to a 2013 study published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology, rates of cervical cancer during pregnancy vary from 0.1 to 12 per 10,000 pregnancies. While rare, it is reportedly the most commonly diagnosed gynecological cancer during pregnancy.

“Dr. Burnett and I spoke early on and decided to delay treatment for the cancer as long as possible. However, when a follow-up exam revealed that the lesion on her cervix was larger than expected, we determined the best course of action was to begin chemotherapy at 20 weeks into her pregnancy,” said Hughes.

A total of six chemo treatments took place in the UAMS Cancer Institute’s Infusion Clinic 1 under Burnett’s guidance, while Hughes performed multiple ultrasounds to monitor the baby’s growth.

“Mrs. Martinez was understandably nervous and always wanted to put the baby’s well-being ahead of her own. We assured her that most of our pregnant patients who undergo chemotherapy do incredibly well, and fortunately she and her baby were no exceptions,” Hughes said.

On Nov. 16, 2016, 5-lb., 14-oz. Angel made his debut via a scheduled C-section, which was immediately followed by a hysterectomy. The experience brought Martinez full circle to the day she found out she was pregnant. “It was a relief to see he was strong and healthy,” she said of her new son.

Martinez’s time at UAMS touched not only her own family, but also those around her. “There was something very special about Mrs. Martinez. She was my first pregnant patient, and on top of that, there was a language barrier to overcome,” said Cyndi Root, R.N., a nurse in the Cancer Institute’s Infusion Clinic 1, who quickly developed a bond with Martinez. “We love all of our patients. They are our family,” she said.

To honor Angel’s birth, the nurses of Infusion Clinic 1 decided that a special gift was in order. They purchased blue yarn, which UAMS chaplain Beverly Milford had blessed by her church, St. James United Methodist Church. Then, volunteers in the Cancer Institute’s Sit & Knit group created a one-of-a-kind baby blanket, which was presented to the family about four months after Angel’s birth.

For now, Martinez is relieved to have two healthy sons and no sign of cancer. “If the cancer doesn’t return for five years, they will declare me cancer free. Angel will be 5 years old then, and that will be a happy day,” she said.

Pine Bluff Man Free of Esophagus Cancer After Early Detection

June 1, 2017 | When Mark Harper went to see his gastroenterologist last September, he wasn’t expecting a cancer diagnosis.

“I never had any symptoms,” he said. “I went in because I promised my wife I’d go see Dr. Henry Rogers before he retires.”

Harper considers himself lucky. The doctor in Pine Bluff did an endoscopy and saw something he found concerning. He ordered a biopsy and found Harper was in the early stages of esophageal cancer.

“He referred me to UAMS because they couldn’t do an ultrasound in Pine Bluff. Dr. Tharian took it from there.”

Benjamin Tharian, M.D., is an assistant professor and director of Advanced Endoscopy at UAMS who sees patients in the gastroenterology clinic.

“We rechecked the sample here with UAMS pathologists and confirmed that Mr. Harper did have cancer in the lining of his esophagus,” Tharian said.

Harper has Barrett’s disease, a relatively common pre-cancerous condition in patients with heartburn caused by the repeated exposure of the esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach) to acid refluxing from the stomach. Barrett’s is found in about 7 percent of those over age 40, even more in patients with reflux disease. In a small minority, Barrett’s disease develops into esophageal cancer, which why early recognition and monitoring is important.

Before he began treating Harper’s cancer, Tharian first made sure the cancer had not spread into deeper layers of the esophagus or other parts of the body by doing an endoscopic ultrasound and CT scan. The cancer was found to be limited to the inner lining of the esophagus. “It’s great the cancer was discovered at an early stage,” Tharian said.

Most people with Barrett’s disease won’t develop esophageal cancer, though it remains the most common risk factor for this cancer. The incidence of this cancer has increased by 500-600 percent since 1970. It remains one of the fastest growing cancers in the U.S. with less than one in five surviving up to five years after diagnosis.

Patients at risk of Barrett’s disease — those with reflux symptoms, smokers, overweight, and those with history of dysplasia on previous biopsies or a family history of esophageal cancer — should be screened with an upper endoscopy.

Those with the disease should be monitored closely by a gastroenterologist with endoscopies and biopsies.

“You have to look carefully for any lumps or bumps within the Barrett’s lining and suspicious or abnormal areas. Early recognition of high-risk lesions will enable early referral to an interventional gastroenterologist.

In Harper’s case, once Tharian determined the cancer was limited to the lining of the esophagus, he performed a tissue biopsy from some lymph nodes in Harper’s chest to see if cancer was present there. It also came back negative. Tharian then endoscopically removed a portion of his patient’s esophagus with the tumor.

“Once the pathologist confirmed that the lesions were removed, I treated the rest of the Barrett’s lining of the esophageal wall using radiofrequency ablation.” The lining would heal eventually with regeneration of normal tissue.

Harper now has to make sure the disease doesn’t return. Because his esophageal junction — the place where the esophagus connects to the stomach — is not tight, Tharian said, stomach acid will continue to enter the esophagus causing a likely recurrence.

“We’ve removed the cancer,” Tharian said. “The next thing to do is prevent it from returning. He’ll need to stay on his acid suppressant medication and have the esophageal junction tightened through minimally invasive surgery. Endoscopic treatment of Barrett’s disease is a cost effective and safe treatment with excellent results. It improves the quality of life.”

Memphis Conference Brings Together Cancer Researchers

May 17, 2017 | UAMS joined with two other research entities to co-sponsor the spring 2017 Cancer Research Conference in Memphis, attracting more than 100 cancer researchers and provided networking opportunities for collaborative projects.

The May 2 event was hosted by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in partnership with UAMS and West Cancer Center in Germantown, Tennessee. The event showcased cancer research from the three institutions.

“The meeting displayed the wide range of innovative cancer research that is being conducted by UAMS, UTHSC and West Cancer Center investigators,” said Lawrence Cornett, Ph.D., vice chancellor for research at UAMS. “I came away optimistic that we will see new collaborations that will accelerate the discovery of new cancer treatments and that will address health disparities that impact individuals who live in the areas served by the three institutions.”

Four faculty from UAMS gave presentations, including Peter D. Emanuel, M.D., director of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and professor in the College of Medicine. In a talk titled “Overview of Cancer Research at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute,” Emanuel spoke about efforts to become an NCI-designated cancer center and pinpointed areas where further interaction and collaboration with scientific partners in the geographic area may be helpful.

“From a broad perspective, I think this initial conference was a wonderful opportunity to allow administrators and scientists from both universities some insights as to the priorities and strengths of the other side,” Emanuel said. “From a scientist’s perspective, the talks, the posters and the opportunity to interact were wonderful. I am certain that many interactive research projects will result from this conference and future meetings.”

Hong-yu Li, Ph.D., professor in the College of Pharmacy, spoke about “Translational Drug Development: Research that Takes you from Bench to Beside and Beyond.”

L. Joseph Su, Ph.D., M.P.H., professor in the College of Public Health, spoke about the “Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences Program at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.”

Daohong Zhou, M.D., professor in the College of Pharmacy and director of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, presented “Targeting Senescent Cells to Improve Cancer Therapy.”

Two UAMS Cancer Researchers Awarded American Cancer Society Grants Totaling $1.58 Million

May 9, 2017 | Two cancer researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have been awarded Research Scholar Grants from the American Cancer Society. Aime Franco, Ph.D., and Ling Gao, M.D., Ph.D., each received a four-year grant of $791,000 to support their ongoing cancer research.

The grants are among 109 national research and training grants totaling more than $45 million that will fund investigators at 75 institutions across the United States; 102 are new grants while seven are renewals of previous grants. The grants go into effect July 1.

“We at the American Cancer Society are proud to partner with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to award over $1.5 million to Drs. Aime Franco and Ling Gao. Based on our extremely rigorous peer review system, we think these two young scientists represent some of the finest cancer researchers in the country,” said Charles Saxe, Ph.D., scientific director American Cancer Society’s Program in Cancer Cell Biology and Metastasis, Extramural Research Department.

Franco’s project titled “Tumor-Stromal Crosstalk in Papillary Thyroid Cancer” seeks to determine how non-thyroid cells found in and around thyroid tumors promote cancer progression and metastasis, which is the spread of cancer to other parts of the body.

“Our research has found that while thyroid tumors start out as primarily thyroid cells, they transition to tumors composed primarily of non-thyroid cells. It is critical to understand what these cells are doing, how they are driving progression of the tumor, and how we can target these cell types more effectively with our therapies,” said Franco, assistant professor in the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Physiology and Biophysics.

According to the National Cancer Institute, thyroid cancer rates have risen significantly during the past several years, due in part to improvements in early detection. While it is now the eighth most common cancer in the United States, thyroid cancer is predicted to rise to the fourth most common cancer by 2030, surpassing colon cancer.

Gao’s project titled “Targeting the p110delta Isoform of PI3 Kinase in Merkel Cell Carcinoma” is focused on the development of a potential new therapy for metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare skin cancer whose rates have quadrupled during the past 20 years. The disease has a five-year survival rate of about 60 percent in those where the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. Once Merkel cell carcinoma spreads, the five-year survival rate drops significantly to only 18 percent, which is a lower survival rate than melanoma

Gao’s project will investigate the potential of using drugs such as idelalisib that inhibit an intercellular signaling pathway called P13K to suppress the abnormal activity of the pathway and kill the tumors.

“There are no targeted therapies for metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma. Successful completion of this study will pave the way for potential clinical trials using P13K inhibitors to treat advanced Merkel cell carcinoma patients,” said Gao, associate professor in the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Dermatology.

In addition to her research interests, Gao also established and leads the clinical program at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, providing personalized treatment plans for patients with Merkel cell carcinoma.

Shewmake Joins UAMS as Division Director of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

LITTLE ROCK — Kristopher B. Shewmake, M.D., has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) as director of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in the College of Medicine Department of Surgery.

He is also an associate professor of plastic surgery at UAMS. He continues to see patients through his private practice, Shewmake Plastic Surgery in Little Rock.

Shewmake was chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at UAMS from 1992-1996 and has been in private practice from 1996 until rejoining UAMS part time this year.

“We welcome the return of Dr. Shewmake to the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery,” said Frederick R. Bentley, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Surgery. “Dr. Shewmake is a talented surgeon and a gifted educator. We are lucky to have him as part of our team.”

Shewmake earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Hendrix College in Conway and a master’s degree in natural science from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He received his medical degree from UAMS, where he also completed a residency in general surgery. He completed a residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Texas-Southwestern Surgery Medical Center in Dallas and a fellowship in craniomaxillofacial surgery at the University of California in Los Angeles.

“I am happy to be returning to UAMS to help start an accredited residency training program in plastic and reconstructive surgery in Arkansas and to be giving back to the institution that educated me and gave me many early opportunities,” Shewmake said. “I am honored to take part in the important task of finding innovations and educating the surgeons of the future.”

Shewmake is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Arkansas Medical Society, American Association of Plastic Surgeons and the Pulaski County Medical Society. He has been a fellow with the American College of Surgeons since 1996 and is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Robin Dean Honored by UAMS Cancer Institute Auxiliary

May 3, 2017 | Gracious, calm and compassionate were just three of the words used to describe Robin Dean at an April 26 ceremony honoring her service to the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

“Robin looks for the sun when the clouds hit. She brings a positive attitude to everything she does,” said Kent Westbrook, M.D., addressing a crowd of more than 160 people gathered to honor Dean as the UAMS Cancer Institute Auxiliary’s 2017 Distinguished Honoree. The award is presented each year to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the mission of the Cancer Institute.

Westbrook is a distinguished professor in the UAMS College of Medicine and co-founder of the Cancer Institute.

“While we have had many physicians and scientists receive this honor over the past 23 years, Robin is only the second staff member to be named our Distinguished Honoree. The Cancer Institute is truly a better place thanks to Robin’s grace and compassion,” said Peter Emanuel, M.D., Cancer Institute director and professor of medicine in in the UAMS College of Medicine.

A three-time cancer survivor, Dean devoted more than two decades as both a volunteer and staff member at the Cancer Institute. Her volunteer activities included serving as chair of auxiliary fundraising events and as an auxiliary board member, including a stint as president in 1999-2000. She was named Volunteer of the Year in 2001.

Her staff positions included serving for two years as a salesperson in the Cancer Institute Gift Shop and for 13 years as coordinator for the Cancer Institute Cancer Support Center at the Family Home, a nonprofit facility that provides low-cost housing for cancer patients and parents of infants in the UAMS Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She retired in 2016.

“You have diagnosed me and treated me. You’ve prayed for me and cared for me. There is no doubt that God’s hand has guided me during these years,” said Dean, acknowledging the health care team and friends who cared for her during her cancer treatments. “Who would have thought that having cancer would have prepared me to talk to the patients I met at the Family Home about how to keep hope alive?”

The Cancer Institute Auxiliary is one of Arkansas’ largest volunteer organizations with more than 500 members dedicated to providing information, service, compassion and hope to those whose lives are touched by cancer.

Janie Lowe serves as director of the UAMS Cancer Institute Department of Volunteer Services and Auxiliary.

UAMS Specialists to Speak at Hot Springs Village Event May 18

LITTLE ROCK — A panel of palliative care specialists from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) will be guests for “The Doctor is In,” a free program from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. May 18 at Diamante Country Club, 2000 Country Club Drive, in Hot Springs Village.

To register, call the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Foundation at (501) 526-2277 by no later than May 11. Lunch is provided.

Palliative care is a medical specialty focused on addressing the needs of the mind, body and spirit and is available to patients at any stage of illness. Sarah Beth Harrington, M.D., director of the UAMS Division of Hospice and Palliative Care, will lead the panel discussion in issues related to pain and symptom management; emotional and spiritual support; care coordination and communication; and end-of-life concerns.

“The Doctor is In” is sponsored by Celegene and the Envoys, a volunteer advocacy group at the UAMS Cancer Institute.

UAMS’ Mayumi Nakagawa, M.D., Ph.D., Named Nettleship Chair in Oncologic Pathology

LITTLE ROCK — Mayumi Nakagawa, M.D., Ph.D., was invested April 26 as recipient of the Drs. Mae and Anderson Nettleship Chair in Oncologic Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

She is a professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Sciences in the UAMS College of Medicine and co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences Program in the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

“Being named to the Nettleship chair is the greatest honor I’ve received in my life,” Nawagawa said. “As I start this new phase of my career, I am so grateful for the friendship, support and encouragement I have received from my colleagues and family.”

The Nettleship chair is the result of generous gifts by husband and wife pathologists the late Anderson Nettleship, M.D., and the late Mae Nettleship, M.D. The chair will be used to support Nakagawa’s research related to human papillomavirus (HPV) and cancer.

“We are grateful for the generosity of the Nettleships in endowing this chair in oncologic pathology. Their forethought has ensured that our researchers will have the support they need to explore and advance cancer research for many years to come,” said Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost.

The chair was previously held by Aubrey Hough, M.D., inaugural university professor and distinguished professor in the Department of Pathology in the UAMS College of Medicine.

An endowed chair is the among the highest academic honors a university can bestow on a faculty member and is established with gifts of $1 million, which are invested and the proceeds used to support the educational, research and clinical activities of the chair holder. Those named to a chair are among the most highly regarded scientists, physicians and professors in their fields of expertise.

“Dr. Nakagawa has proven herself as a leader and innovative scientist well deserving of this honor,” said Peter Emanuel, M.D., director of the UAMS Cancer Institute and professor of medicine in the UAMS College of Medicine. “Her pioneering work in HPV immunology has resulted not only in more than $7.5 million in highly competitive national grant funding, but also a phase 2 clinical trial showing promise for women with cervical dysplasia or pre-cancer caused by the HPV virus.”

Nakagawa graduated from the M.D./Ph.D. program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York. After medical and graduate schools, she received her residency training in clinical pathology at the University of California at San Francisco, where she began her studies of immunity against HPV resulting not from an antibody but from a person’s own cells.

After joining the faculty at UAMS in 2004, Nakagawa continued her research pursuits in the area of HPV immunology and provided patient care as an attending physician for the Transfusion Medicine Service in the Department of Pathology. Her research team’s work at understanding the science of naturally occurring HPV infection, led to the design of a therapeutic vaccine for treating patients with cervical dysplasia or pre-cancer.

A phase 1 clinical trial that tested the vaccine’s safety was performed from 2013-2015 and was supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A phase 2 clinical trial testing the effects of the vaccine is now underway.

Nakagawa’s research group has presented their findings at many national and international scientific meetings, including at international papillomavirus conferences. She has continuously received outside funding from numerous organizations such as the NCI, Cancer Research Institute and the American Cancer Society.

Nakagawa serves on various NIH study sections and numerous committees inside and outside UAMS, including serving as chair of the mentoring committee of the UAMS Women’s Faculty Developmental Caucus since 2013.

Anderson Nettleship served as chairman of the Department of Pathology in the UAMS College of Medicine from 1947-1954 and was instrumental in development of the college as a research institution. He organized the UAMS Medical Illustration Department, began the pathology residency program and served as the first state medical examiner.

Mae Nettleship served as medical director of laboratories at Washington Regional Medical Center and Fayetteville City Hospital.

Together, the Nettleships founded Antaeus Lineal Medical Research Laboratories, which gave pre-medical fellowships to more than 200 students, several of whom became prominent UAMS faculty members. For 18 years, they provided an environment to encourage high school and college students in the study of medicine and health-related fields by creating a summer fellowship program and a school of medical technology. Continuing their support of education, the Nettleships founded The New School in 1971 for excellence in childhood education.

In addition to Gardner and Emanuel, speakers at the ceremony included:

Aubrey Hough, M.D., inaugural university professor and distinguished professor in the Department of Pathology in the UAMS College of Medicine

Michele Fox, M.D., professor in the Department of Pathology in the UAMS College of Medicine and director of cell therapy and transfusion medicine

Anna-Barbara Moscicki, M.D., chief of adolescent and young adult medicine and professor of pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles

UAMS to Offer No-Cost Freedom From Smoking Program Starting May 10

LITTLE ROCK — If you’re ready to quit smoking, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is ready to help.

The small-group Freedom from Smoking program will meet from 4-5:30 p.m. for seven Wednesdays beginning May 10 in room 10104 on the 10^th floor of the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. There is no cost to participate.

To register, contact certified tobacco treatment specialist Pat Franklin, APRN, at (501) 944-5934 or plfranklin@uams.edu.

Participants receive one-on-one support, hear first-hand stories from former smokers, and get information on nicotine replacement therapies, healthy eating habits and stress management.

Since it was introduced by the American Lung Association (ALA) almost 30 years ago, the Freedom From Smoking program has helped more than a million Americans end their addiction to nicotine. The program is offered by the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and uses materials provided by the ALA.