HJLR Nov/Dec 2018

38 NOV / DEC 2018  I  Healthcare Journal of little rock   Healthcare Briefs science by becoming members of the camp staff. The project’s overall aim is not only to teach individual students about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), but to research the most effective ways to inspire students to pur- sue STEM careers. “UAMS’ mission as the state’s only health sci- ences university expands beyond its walls and out into the community,” said Christopher T. West- fall, MD, interim dean of the College of Medicine. “Educational outreach is needed in a state like Arkansas, where we are challenged by racial, eth- nic, and socioeconomic health disparities, as well as growing shortages of healthcare professionals. We must develop new and innovative methods for cultivating a larger, more diverse, and cultur- ally competent health care workforce.” Kevin D. Phelan, PhD, co-director of the Divi- sion of Clinical Anatomy in the UAMS College of Medicine, is leading the program, which is called ArkanSONO. In the high school science classrooms, UAMS faculty will use real medical- grade handheld ultrasound devices to teach basics about the physics of sound, how ultra- sounds work, and how they are used in various STEM fields, including medicine, biomedical research, and industry. “It’s a novel approach that has a bit of a wow factor with students,” Phelan said. “They get to see blood vessels expanding or contracting in real time, or see tendons moving under the skin. We all had a favorite teacher or can think back to an exciting educational experience that sparked our interest and propelled us to our futures. We’re hoping that for some of these students, this can be that experience for them.” Phelan conducted a pilot study in spring 2017 at four of the five high schools in the district. “Teachers said the students were talking about it for weeks afterward,” Phelan said. “We’re excited about seeing what additional interest in STEM we can generate by having some of these students attend summer camps at UAMS, where they build on what they learn in the classroom.” “We are grateful to UAMS for this significant investment in our students and for this tremen- dous partnership,” said Little Rock School District Superintendent Mike Poore. “Our students need these types of hands-on, relevant experiences to learn about STEM and associated careers. It’s clear that most of the jobs of the future will require science and math, so exposure to STEM education today will prepare our students to become the next generation of great innovators.” During the classroom visits, students will also be able to interact with smaller versions of UAMS’ Sectra Table, a virtual dissection tool that allows students to explore human anatomy in 3D with simple gestures similar to those on a smartphone. By the end of the classroom series, the students will use the ultrasounds to conduct their own experiments, using critical thinking and the sci- entific process to predict how the ultrasounds will interact with common objects. At SONOcamp, students will be able to use the ultrasounds on standardized patients—actors who portray patients for teaching purposes—so that they can explore the heart. They will learn about cardiovascular health, including the impor- tance of exercise, a healthy diet, and refraining from smoking. Students will interact with role models and men- tors from a variety of STEM fields as well as cur- rent UAMS students from diverse backgrounds. Participants will put what they’ve learned to the test at the SONOlympics, during which they will use many of the real-life ultrasound skills they’ve learned to solve problems and complete tasks. Phelan is joined in administering the grant, pro- gram, and accompanying research by Gregory Snead, MD, chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine Ultrasound in the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine; Billy R. Thomas, MD, UAMS’ vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion; Noor Akhter, PhD, and Mohsin M. Syed, PhD, both assistant professors in the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences; and Karen Yanowitz, PhD, professor in the Arkan- sas State University Department of Psychology and Counseling. This is the fourth time UAMS has earned the prestigious SEPA funding. Robert Burns, PhD, administered the UAMS Partners in Health Sci- ences Program from 1997–2000. It was funded for a second phase from 2000–2004. In that time, the program brought in millions in grant fund- ing and provided outreach to Pre-K-12 teachers from across the state, giving them science curri- cula and high-quality teaching tools to take back to their classrooms. In addition, Teresa Kramer, PhD, and JoAnn Kirchner, MD, led the Partners in Behavioral Health Science SEPA program from 2000–2005. ADHHelps Host Safe Sleep AwarenessWalk In 2016, approximately 300 infants in Arkansas died before their first birthday, and nearly one quarter of the deaths were sudden, unexpected infant deaths (SUID), a majority of which were sleep-related. In order to keep infants safe while sleeping, par- ents should always place the baby on his or her back for naps and at night; use a firm surface; keep pillows, blankets, or crib bumpers out of the sleep area; keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of the sleep area; dress the baby in a one-piece sleeper; and breastfeed the baby and use a dry pacifier without a string attached to reduce the risk of SUIDs. “Safe sleep practices are crucial for the health and safety of infants in Arkansas,” said Brad Planey, Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Family Health branch chief. “We are working with many partners within the state to educate families about this issue and give them the sup- port they need.” The ADH recently co-hosted the 2018 Arkansas Safe Sleep Awareness Walk with Sisters United, Brothers United, and the Safe Sleep Infant Mor- tality Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network. The event also featured a Sleep Community Forum and an acknowledgement of the babies that passed away from SUID in 2017. Christopher T. Westfall, MD, Appointed UAMS College of Medicine Dean Christopher T. Westfall, MD, FACS, a profes- sor of ophthalmology and longtime clinical and academic leader at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), has been appointed dean of the College of Medicine. Westfall has served as interim dean since Febru- ary 23, when former dean Pope L. Moseley, MD, stepped down to pursue his research. Cam Patterson, MD, MBA, became UAMS chancellor June 1 and made Westfall’s position