HJAR Mar/Apr 2024

40 MAR / APR 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS   Healthcare Briefs UAMS Researchers Awarded $2.23M for Myeloma Precursor Study Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently received two awards totaling $2.23 million for UAMS’ continu- ing examination of therapies to treat multiple myeloma. Myeloma Center research director Fenghuang (Frank) Zhan, MD, PhD, and John D. Shaughnessy Jr., PhD, professor of medicine, will lead projects funded by a $1.73 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) U54 grant and a $500,000 Myeloma Solutions Fund award. The NIH U54 grant collab- orates with the Baylor College of Medicine and Duke University. The Myeloma Solutions Fund award includes a collaboration between UAMS, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Houston Methodist Neal Can- cer Center. Zhan is the principal investigator of the proj- ect entitled “Prevention of MGUS Progression to Multiple Myeloma by Modulating the Bone Marrow Microenvironment.” MGUS refers to monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined sig- nificance, a premalignant condition of antibody- producing plasma cells that can frequently prog- ress to multiple myeloma or Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia. “The long-term objective is to determine the functional role of the bone marrow microenvi- ronment in the development of MGUS and its eventual progression to myeloma,” Zhan said. “The prevalence of MGUS increases with age, suggesting that risk factors associated with aging are important in MGUS development.” Shaughnessy directs the bioinformatics core of the U54 project. “Our goal is to provide in-depth molecular anal- ysis of malignant plasma cells and the cells of the bone microenvironment isolated from patients enrolled in clinical trials over the past 25 years at UAMS, with the aim of distinguishing targetable molecular events in MGUS that has progressed to multiple myeloma or Waldenstrom’s macroglobu- linemia from MGUS that has remained stable for many years,” said Shaughnessy. Shaughnessy added that the results will aid in the identification and “interception” of high-risk MGUS before it converts to overt malignancy requiring intensive therapy to be carried out through the grant awarded by the NIH’s Cancer Prevention-Interception Targeted Agent Discov- ery Program (CAP-IT) through the National Can- cer Institute. Baptist Health Family Clinic-DeWittWelcomes Nicole Garth, DNP Nicole Garth, DNP, recently joined the care team at Baptist Health Family Clinic-DeWitt-A Service of Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart. Garth, a native of Winchester, received medi- cal training from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas State University. Garth, whose specialty is in pediatrics, worked at Arkansas Children’s Hospital for nearly three years. She is a board-certified family nurse prac- titioner and pediatric nurse practitioner by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board. Baptist Health Family Clinic-DeWitt is located at 1703 S. Whitehead Drive. JasonMizell, MD, Joins Baptist Health Surgical Clinic of Central Arkansas Baptist Health Surgical Clinic of Central Arkan- sas recently welcomed Jason Mizell, MD. Mizell was recruited to Little Rock after com- pleting training in colorectal surgery. He initially practiced at the University of Arkansas for Medi- cal Sciences and was active in education, training surgery residents, and research. He recently made the transition to Baptist Health to focus more on clinical practice. While at UAMS, Mizell was the director of the junior and senior surgery clerkships for 10 years and was later program director for the transitional year residency program for four years. In 2010, he created the Business of Medicine course to address the deficit in personal and business finan- cial education for physicians and to help them be more responsible with their finances. This curric- ulum has been highlighted on multiple national podcasts and blogs and has been adapted for use at other universities throughout the U.S. As a result of his efforts, Mizell was awarded the White Coat Investor Financial Educator of the Year in 2020. He has published multiple papers related to physician financial education and has spoken throughout the U.S. to physicians on the business of medicine. Although he plans to continue to teach on phy- sician finance and well-being, he primarily will be utilizing his expertise in colorectal surgery to treat complex colorectal diseases and colorec- tal cancer. CARTI Raises $830K for Patient Assistance Program CARTI announced that its 47th annual Festival of Trees raised a record $830,000. Since its incep- tion, the event has contributed well over $10 mil- lion to CARTI’s Patient Assistance Program, which offers comprehensive support services to reduce potential barriers to treatment. All proceeds from Festival of Trees benefit the Patient Assistance Program. Mena Regional Health System Opens UAMSMilk Bank Depot The Mena Regional Health System, in support of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Milk Bank, has opened a milk depot in its Nicole Garth, DNP Jason Mizell, MD