Little Rock – The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the nonprofit Home for Healing gathered on Oct. 29 to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. James Suen, a renowned head‑and‑neck surgeon who devoted more than five decades to caring for patients from Arkansas and around the world.
Decades of leadership in otolaryngology
Dr. Suen, a native of Dermott, Arkansas, led UAMS’ Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery for 43 years, from 1974 until his retirement in 2017. During that time he helped build the department into a national referral center, attracting patients from Brazil, Israel, Ukraine and many other countries.
Alongside Dr. Kent Westbrook, he co‑founded the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, which later evolved into the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, expanding research and treatment options for Arkansas residents.
Teaching and humanitarian work
Beyond his surgical expertise, Dr. Suen was a dedicated mentor. Dr. Gresham Richter, current department chair and former trainee, recalled a marathon 30‑hour operation on a Brazilian patient, noting that Dr. Suen stayed in the operating room the entire time to ensure the best possible outcome.
He also shared his skills abroad, treating soldiers and civilians in Ukraine and training Ukrainian surgeons in complex facial reconstruction techniques, exemplifying a commitment to global health.
Home for Healing
Dr. Suen’s compassion extended beyond the hospital walls. He helped establish Home for Healing, a nonprofit that provides free lodging for patients and families traveling to Arkansas for medical care. Executive Director Kristin Trulock said Dr. Suen wanted visitors from distant lands to feel “like home.” She recounted a young woman from Israel who arrived at midnight for facial‑tumor surgery; Dr. Suen was waiting at the facility, offering comfort before the operation.
When Trulock’s own father faced a feeding‑tube prognosis, Dr. Suen agreed to see him the next morning. After a procedure performed by Dr. Suen, her father gradually resumed eating and the tube was removed, allowing him to live a full life again.
Final lecture and lasting impact
Diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, Dr. Suen faced difficulty speaking at his final lecture. Dr. Richter assisted with the presentation and delivered portions on his mentor’s behalf. When Dr. Suen addressed the audience, he turned the focus to those who supported him, saying, “I want this to be an opportunity to celebrate you all, and thank you.”
Home for Healing is dedicating every guest room to Dr. Suen throughout November, ensuring his spirit of service continues to inspire patients, families, and future surgeons.
Community reflections
Colleagues, friends and former patients described Dr. Suen as an innovator, a brilliant surgeon, and a caregiver who treated each person “like a dignitary, whether you are or not.” The outpouring of gratitude underscores the profound, lasting impact of a man whose career blended medical excellence with heartfelt compassion.
Original reporting: KATV Little Rock (local) — read the source article.
