Monica Smith, manager of regulatory affairs at the UAMS Translational Research Institute, recently received the 2025 Bonny Hope Wallace Award for her knowledge, leadership and compassion in conducting clinical trials.
The Bonny Hope Wallace Award is given to a UAMS certified research specialist who works directly in human subject research and is selected by their peers. Wallace worked in research at UAMS for more than 30 years before her death in 2004. The award was presented earlier this month at the annual Certified Research Specialist Awards Ceremony, which is sponsored by the UAMS Office of Research Compliance.
“Bonny Hope Wallace exemplified integrity, dedication, professionalism and a commitment to mentoring,” Smith said. “Knowing my dedication to research will benefit our patients is rewarding in itself.”
Smith, who was nominated by her colleagues, joined UAMS in 2005 and has worked with the Translational Research Institute since 2018.
As a regulatory affairs manager, Smith works with her team to ensure that clinical research studies move along smoothly, including securing approvals through the UAMS Institutional Review Board. Her work helps ensure that people are able to enroll in research studies that test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis or treatment for various diseases.
David Avery, the institute’s senior director for clinical research operations, has worked alongside Smith for over a decade. He directs the clinical trials office that includes several functional areas, including the regulatory team that Smith manages.
“Monica embodies all of the values and characteristics promoted by the Bonny Hope Wallace Award and is an incredibly deserving recipient,” he said. “She is an exceptional team member and has a rare depth and breadth of clinical trial regulatory experience that makes her invaluable to UAMS’ clinical research enterprise.”
Avery said he remembers Smith standing out from the time that they worked together at the Myeloma Center in the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.
“I would argue that her technical expertise is overshadowed by the dedication, integrity, patience and the genuine kindness she conveys to everyone she meets and every challenge she faces.”