Nursing Graduate Puts Her Degree to Use Helping Cancer Patients

Emily McMennamy is one recent graduate who is already making a huge difference in the lives of Arkansans. 

Emily graduated summa cum laude in spring 2025, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in child advocacy. While on campus, she was already devoted to helping vulnerable Arkansans, especially children, volunteering with several programs such as Tiny Tusks, the SOAR After-School Program, the Mental Health Awareness Organization and the Feed 479 Food Bank. 

Emily knew she wanted to go on to work in oncology (cancer care), because “I found it fascinating and wanted to work in an area where groundbreaking research is taking place.” 

So after graduation, Emily returned to her hometown, Little Rock, to work at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences as a stem cell transplant nurse. One factor in her decision was that UAMS was recently ranked in the top 10% in the nation for cancer care.  

“UAMS is consistently ranked alongside top hospitals such as the Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as one of the best hospitals for multiple myeloma treatment,” she says. “I love that I can stay in Arkansas and work at a place where so much is happening!” 

She now helps administer chemotherapy and works with physicians performing stem cell transplants, specifically in the treatment of multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer. 

“I love my job and have found it so rewarding,” she says. “It is an incredible thing to be able to provide patients with hope and innovative cancer treatments.” 

Emily credits her clinical instructors in the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing for shaping her into the nurse she is today. “They were there with us for the long hours and taught me so much through the years,” she says. “We really do have an amazing nursing program with passionate instructors.”