About this Event
Join us on Tuesday, October 20, at noon for an insightful, expert discussion during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. Ronda S. Henry-Tillman, professor and executive vice chair of the UAMS Department of Surgery, and Chief of the Breast Surgical Oncology Division, will offer enlightening insights on early detection and medical advancements, while raising awareness and inspiring hope.
During this conversation, moderated by Pamela Smith, Dr. Henry-Tillman will share her pioneering work in cancer research, efforts promoting impactful community service, and her innovative approaches and significant contributions to the field of breast cancer surgery.
In 2000, President Bill Clinton significantly expanded treatment options for women diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer by enacting the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act. The law provides cancer screenings as well as access to treatment to uninsured and underinsured women.
The program will be available on our YouTube channel the following day.
ASL interpretation is available during our events.
This program is presented by the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Presidential Library.
More about the speakers
Dr. Ronda S. Henry-Tillman, M.D., FACS, is a nationally and internationally recognized breast surgical oncologist, educator, researcher, and advocate for addressing health disparities. She is a Professor and Executive Vice Chair of the UAMS Department of Surgery, Chief of the Breast Surgical Oncology Division, and holds the Muriel Balsam Kohn Chair in Breast Surgical Oncology at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. A graduate of the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, she completed her general surgery residency at UAMS and, in 1999, the Virginia Clinton Kelley/FFANY Clinical Breast Fellowship, named in honor of Virginia Clinton Kelley, mother of President Bill Clinton. Her career spans patient care, research, education, and leadership, with scholarly work on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, surgical innovation, cancer prevention, and access to care.
Dr. Henry-Tillman's commitment to improving outcomes extends beyond the United States. Through partnerships including Friends of Africa and the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, she has helped develop early-detection initiatives and trained health-care professionals in Africa, including at the University of Zambia and the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nationally, she has served on committees and boards with the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, the Society of Surgical Oncology, and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, and helped develop UAMS's mobile mammography program to expand screening access in Arkansas.
A dedicated mentor to the next generation of physicians and researchers, she has been named a Best Doctor in America, received the National Cancer Institute's Community Health Research Leadership Award, and in 2022 was honored by UAMS with the Dr. Edith Irby Jones Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.
Pamela Smith is the Executive Communications Director and Senior Advisor for the Little Rock School District, where she has served since 2012, leading internal and external communications, marketing, and public relations for 19,000+ students and their families. A 30-year media and communications veteran, her career spans public relations, broadcast, and print. Smith is well known in Arkansas as a former co-host of Good Morning Arkansas and weekend anchor at KATV, where she worked for more than two decades, and as longtime on-air talent and news director for theBroadway Joe Radio Show.
A graduate of Oral Roberts University, Smith has earned recognition for her leadership and volunteerism, including Soiree Magazine’s “Women to Watch,” the Arkansas Martin Luther King Commission’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and honors from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and the National Association of Black Journalists. Beyond her role in LRSD, she is a member of Rotary Club 99, and has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the UA-PTC Foundation, Art Porter Music Education, Inc., City of Little Rock’s Advertising and Promotion Commission and the Arvest Bank Board of Directors.
During her journalism career, Smith hosted the popular food feature Pam’s Picks and was an AY Magazine contributor withPamela’s Palate. She remainsactive in numerous civic and charitable organizations. Smith frequently serves as a moderator, emcee, and host for community events. She is the proud mother of one son, Brandon, and a mentor to a young student.
Event venue & nearby stays
Clinton Presidential Center, 1200 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock, United States
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