Distance Traveled Smit Patel

Student doctor Thomas C Graham, aka TC, is one of a few, especially in medicine. He was born in Texas, lived in Germany, and finally moved to a small town in southern Arkansas. After finishing his high school and undergraduate education in Magnolia, TC started his job as a geometry teacher and a coach in a nearby small town. Now, somewhere along the line, his plans changed and his goals evolved, which led TC on a journey, one of going back to school and on the way to becoming a physician. This is a beautiful example of how in retrospect things might seem all planned but it rarely is the case. Also, there is no time limit on dreams and goals.

Dr. Sara G. Tariq! It is extremely hard to introduce someone who is loved and known by many and who wears many hats. But I will try. Dr. Tariq, professionally, is an internal medicine physician with a focus on women's health and eating disorders at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and has been one since 2002. Additionally, among other things, she has served as the course director for Practice of Medicine 2(a course that teaches 2nd-year medical students how to be doctors), the medical director for the simulation center(a place where medical students can practice hands-on skills on mannequins before they go and see real patients), the asst dean for Undergraduate Clinical Education, and now serves as the associate dean of student affairs--all at UAMS. Dr. Tariq is decorated with an even longer list of awards. To list a few, she has gotten the most number of consecutive golden sash awards by the college, and national awards for education by the American College of Physicians. She had and continues to give talks, do research, and bring awareness for equity, education, and inclusion at UAMS and has been on the transition team of the Mayor of Little Rock, AR to help make the city a better place to live in. This is a story about resilience and brilliance. 

Brian A. Primack has done a lot of things from giving a TED talk to treating patients as a physician for 2 decades to doing research on social media and its effects on our mental health to now leading the University of Arkansas's College of Education and Health Professions. His work has been published in every major news and media outlets including The New York Times, The Times of India, MSNBC, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan, Daily Mail, and more. However, for the first time, he sat down to talk about his life journey and the decisions that led him to where he is today. Tune in to hear about it all. This episode is truly about a man you know, but a story you don't! 

Dr. Samantha Robinson, besides being a wonderful Biostatistics and Statistics professor, is one of the kindest and bravest women you will ever hear from. She faced the 2009 financial crisis right after graduating college and despite that worked hard to ensure a bright future for herself and her daughter. Now, at the University of Arkansas, she is a fierce women's advocate and champions student success. 

In conversation with Dr. Lynda L. Coon, the Dean of the University of Arkansas Honors College. Besides being one of the most influential leaders at the University of Arkansas, she is also a wonderful historian, teacher, author, and one of the most humble people you will ever talk to. There's a lot to learn about being carefree, openminded, thinking outside the box, and more from her journey from Virginia to Arkansas. Take a listen to learn more about her personality!

From championing for people usually unknown and unseen to making sure that people feel represented, Briuana Green has done a lot. Her story is unique not because of her educational journey to Harvard, but because of what she did while there and afterward. A girl from small town Arkansas makes the state and her loved ones proud. An author, a teacher, a mentor, a Harvard cheerleader, and more. To learn more, please tune in!