• The state's first Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) scanner, which combines these two imaging technologies to provide our doctors with unique information for assessing cancer sites, heart disease and neurology disorders
• A 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit, which produces higher quality images than the 1.5 Tesla MRI commonly used
• The gamma knife, which allows brain surgery without an incision
• Digital mammography, which can provide more reliable and accurate images

As an academic medical center, UAMS has attracted nationally and internationally known faculty members. They teach the next generation of health care professionals and provide personalized care to our patients.

Our programs include:

• One of the foremost facilities in the world for the treatment of multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer
• The only high-risk pregnancy program in the state, with the only board-certified maternal-fetal doctors in Arkansas
• Minimally invasive joint surgery, such as a knee replacement technique and hip resurfacing
• A growing organ transplant program, including the state's only liver transplant program
• Specialty and subspecialty care in numerous areas, including cancer treatment, aging, vision and the spine

UAMS also has a strong core of researchers expanding the boundaries of science and medicine. This research can translate into new medical treatments for you. Benefits include:

• UAMS BioVentures, the state's first biomedical business incubator, where UAMS researchers transform their work into products to benefit human health and promote economic development
• Translational research, such as that in the Center for Translational Neuroscience, where researchers are focused on moving scientific findings from the laboratory to the patient's bedside
• Participation in clinical trials where researchers are testing the effectiveness of new medical treatments, such as with myeloma

Continuing our tradition of excellence, UAMS is pleased to house a long list of "firsts." The following Arkansas health care milestones have been accomplished at UAMS:

• First open-heart surgery
• First heart bypass surgery
• First bone marrow transplant
• First outpatient bone marrow transplant in U.S.
• First high-risk nursery
• First kidney transplant
• First and only combined kidney/pancreas transplants
• First to treat sickle cell disease
• First to treat hemophilia
• First ophthalmic laser
• First eye bank
• First corneal transplant
• First breast reconstruction surgery
• First cryosurgery for liver tumors
• First to perform balloon dilatation of coronary arteries
• First outpatient chemotherapy
• First unicompartmental knee replacement surgery
• First articular knee cartilage transplant
• First and only skull-base surgery
• First gene therapy for multiple myeloma in the U.S.
• First fetal blood transfusion in the womb
• First in vitro fertilization (IVF) program
• First and only high-risk pregnancy program
• First pallidotomy for Parkinson's disease
• First laser lumpectomy for breast tumors
• First lymph node preservation program for breast cancer and melanoma
• First and only gamma knife radiosurgery center
• First laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery
• First laparoscopically implanted stomach pacemaker
• First to offer digital mammography
• First and only liver transplant
• First and only to use robotics for gynecologic surgery
• First and only Oculus Pentacam for diagnosing eye problems
• First and only MDA/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Research and Clinical Centers
• First and only adult cystic fybrosis center