April 2002

Accolades

Samah Abuhrahma, M.D., pediatric neurology resident, won the Decker award — the top award — for her presentation at the Southern Pediatric Neurology Society meeting.

Y. Wady Aude, M.D., recently joined the Department of Internal Medicine as assistant professor (interventional cardiology faculty) in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. His special clinical interests include angina and coronary artery disease, and he sees patients in the cardiology clinics at the UAMS Medical Center Outpatient Center and the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital.

Laurie Barber, M.D., associate professor, Department of Ophthalmology, immediate past president of the Women’s Faculty Development Caucus, has been named chair of OphthPAC and member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Secretariat. OphthPAC is a committee that was established in 1985 to enhance the advocacy efforts of the Academy through support of select candidates for U.S. congress in order to advance ophthalmology’s interests at the federal level. Dr. Barber is the first woman chair, as well as the youngest. OphthPAC is one of the most successful specialty medical PACs in Washington, DC.

Ann Coleman, Ph.D., R.N., received a College of Nursing Intramural Grant Award for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Exercise Therapy for Patients Receiving Treatment for Cancer.

Terry DuBose, was recognized by the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (SDMS) at their Annual Conference last October. This was a one time, special recognition of work he did starting in early 1999 as chair of the Advanced Practice Sonographer (APS) Committee. This committee was formed to establish a sonographic designation for individuals who have more than entry level ARDMS certification.

The Clinical Programs Recognition Council named Vivian Porchia Hervey Most Valuable Player for the month of April. Hervey is a patient services coordinator on wing 6E and has the distinction of being the first MVP of the month named by the Recognition Council. She has worked at UAMS for 12 years and began her career on wing 2A of University Hospital as a patient services coordinator. 

Tim Irby, director of Marketing for UAMS Medical Center, has been named to the six-member Executive Council of the state AARP. Irby serves as the executive council member for communications. In this new role, Irby and the other council members, will be the decision-making entity that establishes strategic priorities and objectives for the state AARP and defines the major priorities regarding legislation, advocacy, member and community service and communications. Irby is a 31-year veteran of the marketing and advertising field. He has been very active in the Arkansas Advertising Federation (AAF) and has received the Lifetime Service Award from AAF and the AAF Aid To Education Award from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The Department of Radiology welcomes ultrasound and mammography expert Thomas B. Jones, M.D., as associate professor and director of breast imaging at UAMS Medical Center. Most recently, Dr. Jones worked in California as the director of ultrasound at Memorial Hospital in Long Beach and as the director of radiology at Los Alamitos Medical Center. He was also a member of MEMRAD Medical Group and the CIO of MEMRAD Medical Group and Radiology Practice Management in California.

John P. Livoni, M.D., has joined the Department of Radiology as associate professor and chief of radiology in the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. He is also Arkansas’ only B Reader who is certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which means he is qualified to evaluate chest X-rays in patients with suspected asbestosis and pneumoconiosis.

Emily de Los Reyes, M.D., was elected president of the Southern Pediatric Neurology Society for a two-year term.

Elaine Souder, Ph.D., R.N., Alan VanBiervliet, Ph.D., and Linda Hodges, Ed.D., R.N., received a Department of Health and Human Services — Health Resources and Services Administration (DHHS-HRSA) Award for the Southern Geriatric Nursing Certificate Program. Dr. Souder will serve as project director, and Dr. VanBiervliet as investigator. Dr. Hodges was a major supporter in writing the grant, advocating a project to prepare 35 nursing faculty members from the Southern region in geriatric nursing and web-based nursing course design and delivery. HRSA works to improve access to essential health-care services for the 43 million Americans who are poor, uninsured, or who live in medically underserved areas.

Chris Richards, a UAMS College of Nursing alumni, has been named nurse of the month for April. Richards has worked at UAMS for a total of 12 years and received her master’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 1992. Things that Richards likes most about her job is that she learns so much from her patients about life and what is really important, and she also really enjoys the people she works with.

Department of Pediatrics faculty members were elected to several positions and received hosts of awards during a recent meeting of the Southern Society of Pediatric Research (SSPR) held earlier this year. Toni Darville, M.D., was elected president, having previously served as president-elect. Stacie Jones, M.D., was elected to serve as a member of the Research Council. Ron Baldwin, M.D., has been elected the next chair of the region ambulatory pediatrics association. He will also sit on the Southern Societies Joint Council. Gary Wheeler, M.D., received the Pediatric Education Award, which recognizes an outstanding educator in pediatric medicine. Richard Jacobs, M.D., won the Founder’s Award, which is awarded to a member of SSPR who has made significant contributions to both the health care of children and the activities of SSPR.