2021 AMP Champions of Health Care

 

Thompson, a former state surgeon general under Govs. Mike Huckabee and Mike Beebe, is the president and CEO of the independent health-policy organization, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI).

 

In late January, before the virus spread started to slow and an end to the pandemic seemed on the horizon, ACHI began publishing local and regional COVID data for Arkansas. It represented an attempt to expand access to information about the spread of the virus.

 

Even then, Thompson said Arkansans should remain vigilant.

 

“While we are all eager to get back to some kind of normalcy, the reality is that COVID-19 will be with us for much of this year,” he said. “This new information will help give communities a line of sight into how things are trending regionally as well as locally and help decision-makers assess risks, develop strategies, and track their communities’ progress in fighting this threat.”

 

The medical industry in Arkansas and everywhere has been waging a defensive war against COVID for more than a year. And just when it seemed as though a light was visible at the end of the tunnel, the delta variant hits, sending numbers back up.   

 

This month’s issue of Arkansas Money & Politics takes a look at health care in Arkansas and recognizes our 2021 Champions of Health Care, nominated by readers.

 

We can think of no better way than “Champions” to describe them. We asked AMP readers to nominate their “Champions of Health Care” in 14 categories — champions like Dr. Brian McGee of Little Rock. 

Dr. Brian McGee

Brian L. McGee, M.D., is a gastroenterologist at Arkansas Diagnostic Center and Kanis Endoscopy Center. Board certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine, McGee is a Marion native who attended Xavier University in New Orleans and earned his medical degree at UAMS, where he completed his internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship. 

Being a native of the Delta, he has seen first hand the challenges faced by rural hospitals and communities regarding access to care.

Committed to community engagement and education, he is a member of several professional societies and serves as president of Arkansas Cash for Kindness, a nonprofit organization devoted to inspiring kindness and compassion by highlighting various good deeds in the local community.

McGee is married to Lara Blume-McGee, founder of the nonprofit, ALS in Wonderland Foundation, which benefits Arkansans living with ALS.

A year and a half into a pandemic that changed the world, the word “hero” begs for redefinition. Because now the definition should include a reference to health care workers like Dr. McGee.

All health care workers are champions, but congrats to this particular group of Arkansas heroes recognized by our readers. The top vote-getters in each category are listed below, in no particular order.

Allied Health Care Providers

Ashley Cornett,
Conway Regional Health System

Darla Cathcart,
Conway Regional Health System

Emily Gray, UAMS

Brittany Hargis,
Rise Counseling and Diagnostics

Derek Lagemann,
Physical Therapy Institute

Health Care Administrators

Adam Head, CARTI

Cam Patterson, UAMS

Charlotte Rankin,
Mercy Hospital Nothwest Arkansas

Matt Troup,
Conway Regional Health System

Steven Webb,
Unity Health White County Medical Center

Health Care Clinics

Autumn Road Family Practice, Little Rock

CARTI, Little Rock

Enhanced Healthcare of the Ozarks, Springdale

Little Rock Family Practice Clinic

Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic

Health Care Volunteers

Brenda Aldridge,
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System

Misty Foshee,
Conway Regional Health System

Gill Sills, Unity Health

Innovation in Health Care

CARTI — El Dorado and Pine Bluff Cancer Centers

Elder Independence Home Care, Bryant

Kittell Clinic, Little Rock

NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, Jonesboro

Stryker Orthopaedics,
Little Rock

Large Hospitals

Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock

Conway Regional Medical Center

Unity Health White County Medical Center, Searcy

UAMS Medical Center, Little Rock

Washington Regional Medical Center, Fayetteville

Long-Term Care Facilities

Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center,
Little Rock

Good Shepherd, Little Rock

Lakewood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center,
North Little Rock

Presbyterian Village, Little Rock

Superior Senior Care, Little Rock

Mental Health Facilities

The BridgeWay, North Little Rock

Chenal Family Therapy,
Little Rock

Levi Hospital, Hot Springs

Pinnacle Pointe, Little Rock

Springwoods, Fayetteville

Nurse Practitioners

Leah Carrington,
Enchanced Healthcare of the Ozarks

Jolynn O’ Guinn Charles,
Travel Nurses Across America

Angela Foster,
Conway Regional Health System

Lisa Grummer,
Cornerstone Clinic for Women

Julia Ponder,
Arkansas Heart Hospital

Physicians

Brookshield Laurent,
NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tony Manning,
Conway Regional Health System

Brian McGee,
Arkansas Diagnostic Center

Sayyadul Siddiqui, CHI St. Vincent

Diane Wilder, CARTI

Physician Assistants

Sarah Anderson,
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System

Savannah Bradbury,
Conway Regional Neuroscience Center

Megan Redam,
Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic

Matt Reynolds,
Arkansas Dermatology

Trent Tappan, OrthoArkansas

Registered Nurses

Ally Ferguson,
Travel Nurses Across America

Valerie Lambe,
Conway Regional Health System

Mary Lowe,
Summit Health and Rehabilitation

Maggie Moore,
CHI St. Vincent Neuroscience Institute

Sonya Wooderson,
United Cerebral Palsy

Small Hospitals

Arkansas Heart Hospital,
Little Rock

Arkansas Surgical Hospital, North Little Rock

Cabot ER Hospital

NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital, Jonesboro

Northwest Medical Center, Bentonville

Surgeons

Lowry Barnes, UAMS

Regan Gallaher,
Conway Regional Health System

Ali Krisht, CHI St. Vincent

Scott Schlesinger,
Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists

Scott Stern, CARTI