Arkansas Medical Society

04/30/2026

Congratulations to AMS member Shane Speights, DO! We appreciate you!
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Congrats to our Dean, Dr. Speights, on his recent appointment to the Arkansas Board of Health! We are so proud of you & are excited to see what all you accomplish in this position!💙👏🩺

04/30/2026

On April 24–25, the Arkansas Dermatological Society welcomed members from across the state to Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, Missouri, for its annual meeting. With 21 speakers, 23 exhibiting sponsors, and plenty of opportunities to connect, the event created a vibrant space for learning, collaboration, and community!

ADS is one of five specialty societies proudly managed by the Arkansas Medical Society.

04/27/2026

More than 1 in 4 physicians reported that prior authorization has led to a serious adverse event for a patient in their care. Treatment decisions should be between a patient and physician – this is at the core of providing compassionate care!

AMS has done much to fight prior authorization in Arkansas, including the support and successful passage of the Prior Authorization “Gold Card” (Act 575) and subsequent strengthening legislation (Acts 510 and 511). AMS is continually fighting for physicians and against red tape here in Arkansas.

Learn more at https://www.arkmed.org/advocacy/advocacy-care-campaign/

04/27/2026

Happy Monday ... and here's a look back at a FUN Friday when AMS featured NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State Student Member Dean Harrison! Tune in again this Friday morning to see who will be featured next!
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Welcome to our Friday Member Feature …

Today, the Society shines a light on future physician Harrison Dean! 👏

🩺 An Arkansan through and through, Harrison graduated from the University of Arkansas and is now a fourth-year medical student at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State in Jonesboro.

With goals of pursuing general and cardiothoracic surgery, Harrison is choosing a career in medicine to “combine technical skill, problem-solving, and teaching” to make a difference for patients, as he never stops learning himself! ❤️

His love for anatomy and education even led him to spend a year teaching it to help shape future medical minds. 📚🔬

He appreciates AMS for its support of “learners and physicians who are working to improve healthcare in our state.”

🎉 AMS is proud to have you, Harrison Dean, as a student member and a future physician member. Arkansas is lucky to have you as part of its future!

04/27/2026

04/24/2026

At the heart of a wonderful AMS Annual Meeting are its attendees.
If you were there, you made it special—and the Society thanks you!

Our thanks also to this year's event sponsors, speakers, award presenters, and other partners who jumped in to lend their support! Enjoy these final highlights, and please explore a gallery of award photos and general event photos at https://heyor.ca/P7Z55Z and https://heyor.ca/oi5FAo .

04/24/2026

Welcome to our Friday Member Feature …

Today, the Society shines a light on future physician Harrison Dean! 👏

🩺 An Arkansan through and through, Harrison graduated from the University of Arkansas and is now a fourth-year medical student at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State in Jonesboro.

With goals of pursuing general and cardiothoracic surgery, Harrison is choosing a career in medicine to “combine technical skill, problem-solving, and teaching” to make a difference for patients, as he never stops learning himself! ❤️

His love for anatomy and education even led him to spend a year teaching it to help shape future medical minds. 📚🔬

He appreciates AMS for its support of “learners and physicians who are working to improve healthcare in our state.”

🎉 AMS is proud to have you, Harrison Dean, as a student member and a future physician member. Arkansas is lucky to have you as part of its future!

04/23/2026

Annual Meeting Honors: Lifetime Achievement Awards

On April 11, Arkansas physicians, medical students, and healthcare leaders gathered in Little Rock for the Arkansas Medical Society’s Annual Meeting—a day of connection, learning, and well-deserved accolades. During the meeting, the Society recognized outstanding achievements in and lifelong contributions to the field of medicine.

👏 Today, we celebrate the 2026 AMS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD recipients in the categories of 1) Healthcare Leadership; 2) Physician; and 3) Volunteerism.

🏆 Healthcare Leadership: Marcy Doderer, FACHE (Arkansas Children’s)
🏆 Physician: Teresita Angtuaco, MD (UAMS)
🏆 Physician: Hemendra Shah, MD (UAMS)
🏆 Volunteer: Carol Bridges

Congratulations to these and all this year’s winners. The Society thanks you for your contributions to healthcare in Arkansas!

📌 Stay tuned for more highlights from the 2026 AMS Annual Meeting.
Arkansas Children's UAMS College of Medicine UAMS - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

04/23/2026

The Arkansas Medical Society was honored to welcome UAMS Chancellor C. Lowry Barnes, MD, as an evening speaker and award presenter during the 2026 Annual Session held April 11, 2026, in Little Rock. During his remarks, Dr. Barnes reminded attendees of the strong partnership between AMS and UAMS, built over years of collaboration on advocacy efforts that have supported physicians and improved patient care across Arkansas. The Society extends its appreciation to Dr. Barnes for being with us at the meeting and for his dedication to advancing healthcare in our state.

An Arkansas native, practicing surgeon, and career AMS member, Dr. Barnes stepped into the role of chancellor after serving as interim chancellor since July 2025. A founding director of the Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital at UAMS, he is widely recognized as a leader in joint replacement and holds the Carl L. Nelson, MD, Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Pictured: Dr. Barnes; Tanya and C. Lowry Barnes, MD
UAMS - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
UAMS College of Medicine

04/23/2026

Annual Meeting Highlights: Speakers

During this year’s annual meeting, held April 11 in Little Rock, educational speakers delivered high-energy, highly efficient presentations to attendees! In short order, listeners came away with the latest updates on best practices and current innovations related to timely topics like obesity, artificial intelligence, gynecology / obstetrics, and more.

👏 Today, we celebrate and thank the following speakers for presenting!

💡 Artificial Intelligence: Ian Moore, PhD
💡 Cervical Cancer Screening: Lisa Bazzett Matabele, MD
💡 Hematology/Oncology: Jim Chen, MD; Sam Makhoul, MD
💡 Hypertensive Disease: David Dobies, MD
💡 Obesity: Dinesh Edem, MD
💡 Pain Management: Scott Lucchese, MD
💡 Antibiotic Stewardship: Amanda Novack, MD

📌 Stay tuned for more highlights from the 2026 AMS Annual Meeting.

04/22/2026

Congratulations!

04/22/2026

Posters! Posters! Posters!

What a FUN and EDUCATIONAL part of the 2026 AMS Annual Meeting held April 11 in Little Rock. Presenters came and taught attendees so much through their posters that were the result of much study and research. If you were a presenter, you may see yourself right here! (Not all poster presenters are shown.)

Thanks to all 2026 poster submitters.
CONGRATS to the 2026 Best Poster Awardees:

🏆 Best Poster - Faculty: Savanna Ledford, Ahad Nadeem, Brittany Carmack
🏆 Best Poster - Residents: Shiva Singh, Nadia Makkoudji, Varenya Nallur,
🏆 Best Poster - Students: Clayton Frazier, Reagan Dodd, Samuel Lane, Sarah Khot, Matthew Mangan, Grace Tubyfill, Larissa Whale, Bianca Rochelle, Nathania Nischal, Shadan Roumany

Watch the AMS website (arkmed.org) in the coming days to see all poster abstracts.