HJAR Jul/Aug 2026

38 JUL / AUG 2026  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS   Healthcare Briefs FDAReleases Results from Largest-Ever Testing of Infant Formula in the U.S. Editor’s Note: The results of Operation Stork Speed may prove useful not because it revealed a poisoned formula supply, but because it tested an alarming claim against evidence. The result was not a scandal. It was a reminder that over- sight matters, trace contaminants exist across the food system, and public health leaders should be as willing to reassure parents as they are to frighten them. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in April results from the largest exami- nation ever conducted focused on chemical con- taminants in infant formula available on the U.S. market. While breast milk is widely considered the gold standard and optimal source of nutrition for infants whenever possible, millions of parents depend on formula. Across the products tested, an overwhelming majority of samples had unde- tectable or very low levels of contaminants, affirm- ing that the U.S. infant formula supply is safe. The FDA tested more than 300 infant formula samples representative of products sold at retail across the U.S. for lead, mercury, cadmium, arse- nic, pesticides (including glyphosate and glufos- inate), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and phthalates. The samples, which included powders, ready-to-feed liquids, and concen- trated liquids, were tested and analyzed in FDA laboratories. While overall levels of contaminants in the infant formula samples tested were low, the FDA is following up with additional testing as part of the agency’s ongoing monitoring and over- sight efforts and will take additional action where appropriate. This includes conducting further testing, including for additional contaminants, continuing to engage with manufacturers on measures to reduce the levels of contaminants to as low as possible, and working to establish action levels for contaminants in infant formula. Small amounts of contaminants may be present in foods — including infant formula and breast milk — because they occur naturally or enter the environment through human activities in the areas where ingredients are grown or produced. This testing was conducted as part of Operation Stork Speed, the FDA’s Closer to Zero initiative, and the FDA’s routine food surveillance work to help ensure safe, reliable, and nutritious infant formula for families across the U.S. The FDA will continue to test infant formula as part of Operation Stork Speed and ongoing sur- veillance of foods, including testing infant for- mula products that have entered the U.S. mar- ket since this initial survey began and conducting additional compliance sampling. Consistent with FDA’s commitment to transparency, the agency will share results from follow-up surveys. UAMS Researchers Identify NewWays to Protect Vision, RegrowNerves in the Eye Scientists at UAMS have discovered how to “reprogram” immune cells to help the eye heal after traumatic injuries and from diseases such as diabetic retinopathy. The findings from research led by Abdel Fouda, PhD, an associate professor in the UAMS Col- lege of Medicine’s Department of Pharmacol- ogy and Toxicology, offer new hope for patients with vision loss caused by ischemia, a condition in which reduced blood flow restricts oxygen and nutrients to tissues. Ischemia can occur with phys- ical trauma to the optic nerve or with such condi- tions as diabetic retinopathy and central retinal artery occlusion, often called “eye strokes.” All have very few treatment options. While each study looked at a different eye con- dition — one focusing on traumatic eye condi- tions and the other on diabetic retinopathy — researchers found that in both cases, the body’s natural process of clearing away dead cells was hindered by too much of the enzyme HDAC3 in immune cells. Fouda’s team discovered that a protein called CD5L acts as a master regulator in the cell cleanup process, and that by increasing the amount of CD5L, immune cells clear debris more effectively, protecting delicate eye tissues. The second study addressed traumatic optic neuropathy, which can occur after a severe head or facial injury and often leads to permanent blindness. By blocking the HDAC3 enzyme in cer- tain immune cells, the UAMS team created an environment that encourages nerves to regrow. In laboratory models, Fouda said, this approach saved nerve cells and improved their connection Anthony Davis, MD to the brain, suggesting a restoration of visual function. Baptist HealthMemory Clinic Welcomes Anthony Davis, MD Anthony Davis, MD, recently joined the team at Baptist Health Memory Clinic in North Little Rock. He specializes in behavioral neurology with a specific focus on memory and dementia evalu- ation and care. Davis earned a medical degree from UAMS, where he also completed residency training. He is board-certified in neurology by the Amer- ican Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialities. UAMS Invests Jorge Saucedo UAMS College of Medicine invested Jorge Saucedo, MD, MBA, professor and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, during an April 7 ceremony. Saucedo returned to UAMS in 2025 after a national search that began when Edward T.H. Yeh, MD, chair of the department since 2020, announced his retirement. An endowed chair is among the highest aca- demic honors a university can bestow on a faculty member. A distinguished chair is established with gifts of at least $1.5 million, which are invested and the interest proceeds used to support the educational, research, and clinical activities of the chair holder. Those named to a chair are among the most highly regarded scientists, physicians, and professors in their fields. The chair was established by William and