HJAR Nov/Dec 2025

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2025 31 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalAR.com She received a doctoral degree from the Uni- versity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in 2019, earned a bachelor’s in nursing from UAMS, and a master’s in health administration from the University of Phoenix. Basu Completes First Phase of Groundbreaking Cardiac Visualization Project A professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has developed a new way for heart surgeons to visualize arteries in 3D using gaming technol- ogy. The cardiac visualization project hopes to give doctors a clearer, more interactive view of the heart before performing complex procedures. Arya Basu, PhD, an assistant professor of com- puter science, has completed the first phase of the project, “Robust 2D to 3D Cardiac Arterial Mapping and Visualization for Surgical Preplan- ning.” He has developed a pipeline that converts traditional 2D angiographic images into interac- tive 3D models of the heart’s arterial network. Using computer modeling techniques often found in video games, Basu’s team turned 2D X-ray-like images of the heart’s arteries into detailed 3D models. The system lets doctors vir- tually “peek around corners,” offering perspec- tives that flat images can’t provide. During phase one, the research team gener- ated 3D arterial tree models designed to simu- late various types of arterial anatomy. They then applied the Marching Cubes algorithm to trans- late those data sets into interactive 3D surface reconstructions using Unity, a real-time 3D ren- dering engine. The result is a user-friendly plat- form that allows clinicians to dynamically explore coronary anatomy by viewing arterial paths from hard-to-see angles and assessing regions of inter- est that are often obscured in standard 2D angio- graphic imaging. “We’re taking something inherently flat and turning it into something surgeons can manipu- late, explore, and better understand,” Basu said. “This isn’t about replacing expertise. It’s about augmenting it.” The second phase of research will focus on integrating real, de-identified patient angio- grams and validating the efficacy of the 3D mod- els through post-surgical data. This will allow researchers to measure how well their system can support clinical outcomes and provide real- world feedback to improve the tool. This phase will involve working with anonymized patient data under strict ethical and privacy protocols. The team’s efforts are already online through a newly launched project website, which offers demos, technical insights, and a road map for future research phases. This project is funded through the National Science Foundation’s EPS- CoR DART (Data Analytics that Are Robust and Trusted) initiative and marks Basu’s first major grant-funded research effort at UA Little Rock. Megan Dykema, DPT, Joins UAMS Health Outpatient Therapy Clinic in Fayetteville Megan Dykema, PT, DPT, a licensed physical therapist with specialized expertise in pelvic floor rehabilitation, has joined the UAMS Health Out- patient Therapy Clinic in Fayetteville. She most recently served as a pelvic floor physi- cal therapist at Washington Regional Total Spine, where she provided care for patients with com- plex pelvic floor conditions. A graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Dykema earned a doctorate degree in physical therapy in 2022 and has since completed advanced certifications through the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilita- tion Institute. Her clinical interests include treating dyspareu- nia, urinary incontinence, constipation, endome- triosis-related pain, and recovery from childbirth and prostatectomy. Dykema is also CPR-certified and integrates orthopedic and balance training into pelvic floor therapy. Jean Amargos, MD, Joins UAMS FamilyMedical Center in Fort Smith Jean Amargos, MD, has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and will treat patients at the UAMS Family Medical Cen- ter in Fort Smith. He will also serve as an assistant professor in the UAMS West Regional Campus’ family medicine residency program. Amargos earned a medical degree from Ponce Health Sciences University and completed a res- idency in family medicine at the UAMS West Regional Campus in Fort Smith. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. As a resident, he served as the chair of the UAMS West Family Medicine Didac- tics Committee and the UAMS West Family Med- icine Recruitment Committee. NIHAwards Nearly $5.8Million to UAMS for Research on Cancer Treatment, Side Effects The University of Arkansas for Medical Sci- ences (UAMS) has received a five-year, nearly Jean Amargos, MD Crystal Rose, PhD, MHA, RN, NR- EMT, CNE Megan Dykema, DPT