HJAR May/Jun 2022

38 MAY / JUN 2022  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS   Healthcare Briefs The team of researchers focused primarily on COVID-19 cases among K–12 students and staff members in Arkansas public school districts with varying mask policies. The investigation began in August 2021 and concluded in mid-October. ACHI President and CEO Joe Thompson, MD, MPH, explained how this project displays why joint efforts are important when researching a public health crisis. “Throughout the pandemic, ACHI helped inform local decision makers, including the policymakers, school leaders and parents who enabled this study,” he said. “Future emergency response planning must include data and com- munication strategies to support these local deci- sion makers.” The goal of the MMWR is to promote impor- tant, fact-based, objective information related to public health issues. The research selected for publishing in the MMWR are typically reports submitted to the CDC from a state health department. When the coalition first began to gather and research the data, the goal was to get correct information to Arkansans about mask mandates in schools. Additionally, many of Arkansas’ youth were still not eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine. During the study, Arkansas’ COVID-19 commu- nity transmission levels declined while vaccination coverage increased. Among the 233 school dis- tricts included in the study, 30%, 21%, and 48% had full, partial, or no mask policies, respectively. Among 26 districts that switched from a no mask policy to either a full or partial policy, COVID-19 cases were higher than community rates during the period with no mask policy. However, when districts implemented a mask policy, the COVID- 19 rates among students and staff decreased. UAMS to Host In-Person Summer Day Camp for Grades 9-11 High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will attend a free in-person summer day camp June 13-17 at the University of Arkansas for Medi- cal Sciences (UAMS). During the camp, students will work in small and large groups on various guided activities. Exam- ples include: • Demonstrations of anatomy of major organ systems in the body (such as cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, and ner- vous systems) using virtual anatomy dis- sector software and real human cadaveric specimens. • Ultrasound imaging of live standardized patients (people specially trained to por- tray patients). • Analysis of 3D reconstructions of Comput- erized Tomography data. • Recording of EEG and EKG activity. • Using medical simulation equipment. Students will collect data on standardized patients related to heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oximeter measurements, and infrared imag- ing and learn how to assess reflexes and cranial nerve function. Each small group will be assigned a faculty and student mentor (a medical student at UAMS). This project is funded by a Science Educa- tion Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Kylie Rhodes, MD, Joins Washington Regional Fayetteville Family Clinic Kylie Rhodes, MD, is a board-certified fam- ily practice physician practicing at Washington Regional Fayetteville Family Clinic. Rhodes sees patients from infancy through adulthood for chronic and acute illnesses. She also provides comprehensive women’s care, including family planning with contraceptives. Rhodes earned a medical degree and com- pleted a residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. While at KU, she was elected as chief resident and was awarded the Jack Walker Award for exhibiting excellence in family medicine. As a chief resident, she helped to encourage an atmosphere that improved resident wellness and mental health. MDAnderson Oncologist Shi- Ming Tu, MD, Joins UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Shi-Ming Tu, MD, has joined the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) as a med- ical oncologist specializing in the treatment and research of genitourinary cancer. A fellowship-trained medical oncologist from MD Anderson Cancer Center with 30 years of clin- ical experience, Tu treats cancers of the urinary system of men and women and the reproduc- tive organs in men. Prostate cancer is the most common genitourinary malignancy and the third highest cancer diagnosis in Arkansas with an esti- mated 2,680 cases per year. “Dr. Tu will bolster a growing team of physi- cians and scientists in the battle against genito- urinary malignancies,” said Michael Birrer, Cancer Institute director and UAMS vice chancellor. “He joins a multidisciplinary team of clinicians com- mitted to holistic and patient-centered cancer care, including uro-oncologic surgeons, radiation oncologists specializing in modern treatments of GU tumors and other clinical specialists.” Before joining UAMS, Tu served for 28 years on the medical oncology faculty at the Univer- sity of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. There, he conducted clinical and trans- lational research relating to genitourinary can- cers, authored or co-authored more than 100 Kylie Rhodes, MD Shi-Ming Tu, MD