HJAR May/Jun 2020

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAY / JUN 2020 29 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com members, friends, or self-referral. A screening examination may be conducted prior to admission. As with any hospitalization, the cost of treat- ment is covered by Medicare, Workers’ compen- sation, and private insurance carriers. AHCA/AALA 2019 Administrator of the Year fromRussellville Nursing &Rehab The Arkansas Health Care Association and Arkansas Assisted Living Association (AHCA/ AALA) recently awarded its 2019 Administrator of the Year award to Russellville Nursing and Reha- bilitation Administrator Amber Strom. The facil- ity is a 100-bed residential nursing and rehabili- tation center serving the city, Pope County, and surrounding areas. Strom began her career in high school at Leg- acy Heights Nursing and Rehab in Russellville, where she stayed on as a CNA through college. After graduating from the University of Central Arkansas, she made the shift and started work- ing in assisted living. “I was brought to tears when I heard of my award for Administrator of the Year; and then to also have our team here in Russellville be recog- nized nationally for their dedication and care for our residents was just icing on the cake,“ said Strom. Applicants are nominated for Administra- tor of the Year by their peers. The Russellville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was also recognized as a Tier 3 facility in the national program, The Quality Initiative Pro- gram. This program was launched in 2012 by the American Health Care Association to improve the quality of care in long-term and post-acute care centers. “At Arkansas Health Care Association and Arkansas Assisted Living Association (AHCA/ AALA) we see our administrators as masters of multi-tasking. To do the job well, they must con- sider every aspect of a resident’s or patient’s life, not just their medical needs. They do all this while building a sense of home and community for everyone who walks through their doors,” said Cat Hamilton, director of member services. “Amber embodies all of those things and more!” Facilities receive national recognition based on the number of goals met and are awarded on a Tier 1 – Tier 4 scale. Goals include hospitaliza- tions, customer satisfaction, functional outcomes, and antipsychotics. All facilities have been chal- lenged to achieve quantitative results in these areas. Fenghuang (Frank) Zhan, MD, PhD, Joins UAMSMyeloma Center Myeloma expert Fenghuang “Frank” Zhan, MD, PhD, has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) as research director of the Myeloma Center. Zhan was most recently a professor of medicine at the University of Iowa and an adjunct professor with the University of Iowa’s College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics. Zhan, who is also a professor of medicine in the UAMS College of Medicine, was previously at the UAMS Myeloma Center from 2002 to 2008, as an assistant professor in the College of Medicine. “We are excited to also now have Dr. Zhan back in our fold,” said Frits van Rhee, MD, PhD, clinical director of the Myeloma Center. “Dr. Zhan brings with him great expertise regarding the molecular genetics and the biology of myeloma.as well as drug resistance to therapy” After leaving UAMS in 2008, he joined former UAMS colleague Guido J.K. Tricot at the Utah Blood and Marrow Transplant and Myeloma Pro- gram at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Can- cer Institute. The two later worked together at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City, Iowa. Zhan received a medical degree and PhD in cancer molecular genetics from Hunan Medical University in Changsha, PR, China. He received his dental degree from West China Medical Uni- versity in Chengdu, PR, China. Zhan’s ability to identify and target myeloma stem cells and the genomic classification of the disease will be an immense asset to UAMS, van Rhee said. “He will greatly help us in furthering the inno- vative treatment we have offered for more than 30 years now.” Ninety-Six Percent of UAMS Medical Students Find Residency Placement at Match Day Ninety-six percent of the College of Medicine graduating medical students who participated March 20 in the National Resident Matching Pro- gram (NRMP) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) were placed into res- idency programs, where they will continue their specialty medical training for the next three to seven years. Forty-three percent are staying in Arkansas for their training, where studies show they are likely to remain to practice medicine. Forty-five percent are going into primary care fields such as fam- ily medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. Match Day is an annual event in which fourth- year medical students across the nation simulta- neously open envelopes revealing their “match” — or where they have been accepted to continue their training in a specialty residency. Usually a big celebration with friends, family, and faculty, this year’s celebration was held virtually. In-per- son classes at UAMS were suspended March 12, and events have been canceled in an effort to stop the spread of the highly contagious novel COVID-19 respiratory illness. “I suspect that this will be more memorable than any other Match Day,” Christopher T. West- fall, MD, UAMS executive vice chancellor and Col- lege of Medicine dean, said to the students. “I’d also like to thank you because of the adjust- ments we’re making as we look at COVID-19. I have seen a tremendous response; not only from our faculty and our residents, but the stu- dents have really stepped up to the plate with acts of volunteerism. I urge you over the next few months to learn everything you can about this virus and how to take care of these patients, Fenghuang (Frank) Zhan, MD, PhD