OU Health

At Oklahoma Children’s OU Health, we are proud to honor the incredible work of respiratory therapists through The PHIL Award, a national program that recognizes care team members who understand that every breath matters. This award, created by The FACES Foundation, celebrates professional excellence and compassion in caring for patients with pulmonary illnesses. Each year, one respiratory therapist is selected based on nominations from patients, families, visitors and caregivers. This year, we are thrilled to announce Kadjia Frye as the recipient of The PHIL Award! Kadjia exemplifies dedication and compassion in her role. One nomination described her as “very passionate with her patients… always thinking ahead, very thorough with her assessments, and always willing to go beyond her duty to find ways to help our patients.” Her commitment to excellence truly reflects the spirit of this award. Join us in congratulating Kadjia and celebrating all respiratory therapists who make a difference every day! 👏

Holiday magic arrived early at Oklahoma Children’s OU Health! On Saturday, OKC Thunder star and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surprised our patients with gifts, laughter and creativity — bringing joy to children spending the holidays in the hospital. As the state’s flagship children’s hospital, we care for some of the most complex pediatric cases in the region. Moments like these remind us of the power of community and compassion. Thank you, Shai, for sharing hope and holiday cheer with our families.

OU Health is leading the way in emergency care with one of the nation’s most advanced CT scanners! Through our partnership with Siemens Healthineers, OU Health has installed the NAEOTOM Alpha photon-counting CT scanner in our emergency department, making us among the first health systems in the country to do so. This technology delivers clearer images, faster scans, and reduced radiation exposure, helping doctors make lifesaving decisions quickly. “This new technology is a big step forward for our emergency care,” said Dr. Anthony Alleman, OU Health radiologist and chair of the Department of Radiological Sciences at the OU College of Medicine. “It helps our doctors make better decisions faster, which can save lives.” OU Health is Oklahoma’s leading Level I Trauma Center, and having this type of leading-edge technology in the emergency room provides an opportunity to decrease the patient's wait time on the CT table and improve patient comfort. This installation also marks the first time in the nation that the Bayer Centargo Injector has been paired with the NAEOTOM Alpha, creating a powerful combination that improves care today and opens doors for future research and education.

Dr. Azeemuddin Ahmed, new chair of the Department Emergency Medicine at OU College of Medicine and clinical service chief at OU Health, is leading efforts to transform emergency care across all 77 Oklahoma counties and beyond. His strategy focuses on enhancing digital health tools, improving patient flow and using advanced data analytics to support faster, smarter decisions. Dr. Ahmed says innovation in emergency medicine includes creating new clinical care pathways, improving how a health system or hospital delivers emergency care, making care better and safer, and extending the reach of emergency care into rural areas. Read more from HealthLeaders: https://brnw.ch/21wY8ss

Dr. Abdul Rafeh Naqash, a leading oncologist at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center and associate professor at the OU College of Medicine, has been named a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology — one of the highest honors in cancer care. The recognition is awarded to physicians who advance treatment, research and education while supporting patients. 💫 What does this mean for Stephenson Cancer Center patients? 💫 Dr. Naqash is a compassionate clinician and a nationally recognized researcher and educator. His work focuses on tailoring cancer treatments to each patient’s unique needs, especially through advanced immunotherapy and lung cancer research. He also leads clinical trials that bring the latest innovations directly to our patients. This honor reflects the exceptional care available at OU Health and the strength of an academic health system. Through our combined missions of patient care, research and education, leaders like Dr. Naqash deliver world-class, personalized care — driven by innovation, guided by evidence and rooted in compassion.

Starting Dec. 15, southeast Oklahomans facing a cancer diagnosis will no longer have to travel hours for advanced treatment. OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center — McAlester is opening its doors in a completely remodeled space at 901 N. Strong Blvd., delivering world-class cancer care close to home. This new center fulfills McAlester Regional Health Center's vision of ensuring patients receive the highest level of care without leaving their community. Rural patients often face delays or missed treatments because of long travel times. Oklahoma’s cancer mortality rate is 14% higher than the national average, and rural counties see up to 30% higher death rates for certain cancers. This partnership between OU Health and McAlester Regional changes that reality. Patients will have access to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy with advanced technology and diagnostic services — all in a healing environment designed for comfort and dignity. With bright, welcoming spaces and the most advanced technology, Stephenson Cancer Center — McAlester ensures families can stay together while receiving lifesaving care. OU Health is also working with local transportation providers to remove barriers, because cancer care should never depend on a tank of gas or a day off work. Together, we’re bringing hope home.

OU Health is proud to announce that we’re the first health system in Oklahoma to join the Nurses on Boards Coalition (NOBC) as a Strategic Partner! This partnership ensures that nurses across our state have a stronger voice in shaping healthcare policies and programs that impact every community. By elevating nursing leadership, we’re helping create a healthier future for all Oklahomans. Nurses are the backbone of patient care, and their firsthand experience gives them unique insight into what patients and communities truly need. Through this collaboration, OU Health nurses will gain access to resources, education, and networking opportunities that prepare them for board service. Their leadership will help advance health equity, improve care delivery, and strengthen public health initiatives across Oklahoma’s 77 counties. With thousands of nurses among our 11,000 team members, OU Health is committed to investing in their leadership potential. This partnership reflects our mission to combine patient care, research, and education to drive innovation and improve health statewide. Together, we’re ensuring that nurses have a seat at the table where decisions are made — because when nurses lead, communities thrive.

Movember is a global movement dedicated to improving men’s health by raising awareness for important issues like prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. 1 in 8 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, making it the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men. Early detection and innovative treatments are essential to improving outcomes and the quality of life for men everywhere. As Oklahoma’s only National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center, OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center has a multidisciplinary team of urologic oncology experts who offer state-of-the-art treatment for prostate cancer, including: • Minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgery • High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) • Proton therapy for precise tumor targeting • Genetic testing and personalized medicine • Access to clinical trials, including Phase I This Movember, help us raise awareness and encourage men to talk openly about their health, schedule screenings and seek expert care when needed.