This year, Arkansas Money & Politics readers selected almost 100 health-care professionals and institutions across multiple health care categories to be recognized as “Champions of Health Care” for 2025. Champions of Health Care can be anyone in the industry, from surgeons and physician assistants to nurse practitioners and volunteers, and they can work for large health systems or small clinics. As they continue to work the front line to help keep us all safe, AMP salutes these true “Champions of Health Care.”
Allied Health Care Providers
Ariel Adams, Au.D., CCC-A
Hear Again America
Dr. Ariel Adams is a clinical audiologist at Hear Again America in Little Rock, where she is passionate about putting patients first in hearing health care. A graduate of Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., and lifelong hearing aid user, Adams focuses on how hearing impacts her patients’ individual lifestyles rather than simply selling hearing aids. She is committed to providing the premium service patients actually want — genuine care and integrity that restores not just sound, but meaningful connections in daily life.
Montana Chapman, PT, DPT
Advanced Physical Therapy of Central Arkansas
Montana Chapman has been with Advanced Physical Therapy of Central Arkansas since 2018 and specializes in orthopedic and pelvic health physical therapy for women. She is the co-owner and clinical director of the CARTI location. She is certified in trigger point dry needling, LSVT BIG and The One80 System.
Sarah Hays, D.C.
Little Rock Chiropractic & Acupuncture
Derek Lagemann, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT
Physical Therapy Institute
Evan Newbolt, M.D.
McFarland Eye Care
Cancer Care Providers
Jerri S. Fant. M.D., FACS
CARTI
Irlna Ingrid Tantchou, M.D.
Highlands Oncology Group
Michelle Walters, D.O., FAOCR
MANA The Breast Center
R. Timothy Webb, M.D., FACP
Genesis Cancer & Blood Institute
Fen Xia, M.D., Ph.D., FASTRO
UAMS
Dr. Fen Xia is professor and chair of radiation oncology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. She is both a Harvard-trained cancer biologist and a board-certified radiation oncologist who has held clinical and academic positions at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Ohio State University. At UAMS, Xia leads National Institutes of Health-funded research on radiation resistance and brain metastasis and has played a pivotal role in advancing state-of-the-art radiation oncology treatments, such as proton therapy.
Health Care Administrators
Kim Clatworthy
Elder Independence Home Care
Rebekah Fincher
Conway Regional Health System
Rebekah Fincher serves as chief administrative officer at Conway Regional Health System, where she oversees strategic growth, physician recruitment, clinic acquisitions and graduate medical education for more than 30 residents each year. Her leadership has expanded access to specialty care across central Arkansas. She has received multiple honors, including awards from local publications and the C.E. Melville Young Administrator of the Year.
Brian Gittens, Ed.D., MPA
UAMS
Brian Gittens is the vice chancellor for human resources at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, a position he has held since June after serving in an interim capacity for several months. Previously, Gittens oversaw the division for academic pathways and workforce development. A Marine Corps veteran who joined UAMS in 2019, Gittens is a human resource professional, researcher and educator with more than 35 years of operational and administrative experience.
Nichole Simpkins
Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare
Chris Tropp
Arkansas Surgical Hospital
Chris Tropp, chief operating officer at Arkansas Surgical Hospital in North Little Rock, graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1994. He started his career as an operating room nurse and helped develop a total joint and spine program. He served as the director of surgery at two local hospitals before coming to Arkansas Surgical Hospital.
Health Care Advocates
Arkansas Birthing Project
Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
Arkansas Medical Society
Heartland Whole Health Institute
UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation
The UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation is a leader in community-based health research and programs designed to create a better state of health for all. Located in Springdale, the institute exists to change the state of health in Arkansas by driving impactful, lasting changes in health outcomes, clinical practices, education and policy. The institute is strategically focused on maternal and child health; access to health services; health, hunger and nutrition; and diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases.
Health Care CEOs
Zach Bird
Springwoods Behavioral Health
Marcy Doderer, FACHE
Arkansas Children’s
Marcy Doderer is president and CEO at Arkansas Children’s, where she leads the state’s only pediatric health system. Under her dynamic leadership, Arkansas Children’s is advancing specialized clinical, research and academic programs to create a healthier future for children, especially in the American heartland. In more than a decade, Marcy has extended the health system’s reach through an expanded physical footprint to better serve the children and families of Arkansas.
Adam Head
CARTI
Veronica Love
Home Health Care of Arkansas
Matt Troup, CEO
Conway Regional Health System
For the past 10 years, Matt Troup has served Conway Regional Health System as president and CEO, leading the organization through record growth and earning consecutive Best Places to Work honors both statewide and nationally. He brings prior leadership experience from Texas, Oklahoma and Florida. He has degrees from Texas A&M University and Trinity University in Texas. Troup views health care as a faith-driven calling, inspiring teams across the system to be bold, exceptional and committed to serving others.
Troy Wells
Baptist Health
Troy Wells is the President and CEO of Baptist Health. Wells joined Baptist Health in 2006 and assumed the role of president and CEO in 2014, becoming only the third person to hold the title since World War II. Wells earned a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Health Care Clinics
Cabot Health & Wellness
Franks Dermatology
GastroArkansas
Little Rock Family Practice
Pinnacle Hearing
Health Care Volunteer / Philanthropic Organizations
Arkansas Children’s Foundation
Because of the generous support of Arkansas Children’s benefactors, 850,000 children in Arkansas have access to nationally recognized care close to home at Arkansas Children’s two pediatric hospitals, statewide clinics and many community programs. Yet the work together is not complete. By most national measures of child health and well-being, children in Arkansas are among the least healthy. Gifts ensure Arkansas Children’s is always available to help children and provide resources to meet the needs of each family who arrives seeking treatment.
CareLink
Conway Regional Health Foundation
The Conway Regional Health Foundation, established in 1996, supports Conway Regional Health System by funding equipment, facility improvements, community programs and education. As a not-for-profit hospital, Conway Regional reinvests all revenue to enhance care. The foundation relies on donations from individuals, corporations and foundations to meet growing health care needs and advance innovative projects, ensuring high quality, compassionate care for central Arkansas.
Donna Terrell’s Warriors Fighting Cancer
Sickle Cell Warriors of Blytheville
Home Health Care
Conway Regional Home Health
Conway Regional Home Health provides high-quality, in-home care for patients recovering from illness or disability. Services include skilled nursing, therapy, wound care, IV therapy and more, all coordinated under a physician-directed treatment plan. Rated 4.5 stars by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the team exceeds national averages in key quality measures. With a dedicated staff of nurses, therapists and support professionals, Conway Regional Home Health helps patients heal comfortably and safely at home.
Superior Senior Care
For four decades, Superior Senior Care has been the trusted name in In-Home care across Arkansas. Locally owned and founded in Hot Springs in 1985, we’re proud to continue our legacy of client-directed care. With 27 locations statewide, we make it easy for families to find reliable, personalized care in the comfort of their own homes.
Hospital Systems
Arkansas Children’s
Arkansas Children’s is a nationally ranked health care system dedicated to caring for families across the region, including Arkansas’ 850,000 children. The private nonprofit organization includes two pediatric hospitals with 361 licensed beds, a pediatric research institute and U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition center, a philanthropic foundation, a nursery alliance, statewide clinics, and many education and outreach programs — all focused on fulfilling a promise to define and deliver unprecedented child health.
Baptist Health
For more than a century, Baptist Health has delivered the best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health, Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization, is here “For You. For Life.” with more than 250 points of access that include 12 hospitals, urgent care centers, a senior living community, more than 100 primary and specialty care clinics, a college with studies in nursing and allied health, and a graduate residency program.
CHI St. Vincent
Conway Regional Health System
Conway Regional Health System delivers comprehensive care to eight counties in north central Arkansas and the River Valley. Anchored by a 180-bed medical center, the organization offers services that include heart health, women’s health, orthopedics, endocrinology and more. The system includes 11 primary care and 17 specialty clinics, a rehab hospital, and a health and fitness center. Nationally recognized for workplace excellence, Conway Regional partners with physicians through a unique shared governance model to elevate care and patient experience.
Unity Health
Innovation in Health Care
Advanced Physical Therapy of Central ARkansas
At Advanced Physical Therapy of Central Arkansas, the focus is on providing patient-centered, outcome oriented and scientifically based treatment for general orthopedic problems, lymphatics and prenatal and postpartum conditions, as well as pelvic floor dysfunction for men, women and children of all ages.
Arkansas Surgical Hospital
Arkansas Surgical Hospital in North Little Rock is one of the only five-star hospitals in the state and ranks in the top 5 percent in the nation for patient experience. The hospital features 41 private patient suites and 13 state-of-the-art operating rooms. The surgeons’ specialties range from orthopedic and spine treatments to breast oncology and interventional pain management. The physicians at Arkansas Surgical Hospital perform more joint replacement procedures than any other hospital in the state while maintaining a lower-than-average infection rate.
Beyond Wellness
Beyond Wellness is a total health destination that elevates the traditional wellness experience by serving individuals seeking a custom and holistic lifestyle. Utilizing functional medicine and cutting-edge breakthrough therapies, Beyond Wellness creates a specialized solution that promotes longevity and champions clients’ personalized wellness journey results.
Proton Center of Arkansas
The Proton Center of Arkansas opened in 2023, becoming the first proton therapy center in the state and only the 43rd in the nation, providing the most advanced cancer radiation treatment in the world. A collaboration between the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children’s, Baptist Health and Proton International, the center is located in the UAMS Radiation Oncology Center in Little Rock. Proton therapy uses positively charged proton particles to destroy tumors with greater precision and significantly less damage to healthy organs and tissues.
White River Health
White River Health offers multiple health care facilities and clinics throughout north-central Arkansas, including White River Medical Center in Batesville and Stone County Medical Center in Mountain View. White River Health includes hospitals, primary care and specialty clinics, as well as outpatient care centers.
Large Hospitals (100 beds or more)
Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock
Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock is the largest private, not-for-profit hospital in Arkansas. The nationally recognized, faith-based hospital opened as Baptist State Hospital in November 1920 and was legally incorporated on Feb. 16, 1921. BHMC-Little Rock has 827 licensed beds and serves as the flagship hospital of Baptist Health. It is easily accessible off Interstates 30 and 630 in west Little Rock. BHMC-Little Rock’s emergency department is a Level II Trauma center.
North Arkansas Regional Medical Center
UAMS Medical Center
A 535-bed hospital with outpatient clinics in midtown Little Rock, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center in Little Rock is the state’s only adult Level 1 trauma center and the state’s first comprehensive stroke center. UAMS also has the state’s only solid organ, bone marrow and stem cell transplant programs. In 2024, the UAMS Medical Center was awarded the highest international recognition for excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, achieving designation as a Magnet hospital, making UAMS one of just five hospitals in Arkansas to the distinction.
Washington Regional Medical Center
Long-Term Care Facilities
Belvedere Nursing & Rehabilitation
Briarwood Nursing & Rehabilitation
Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at Good Shepherd
The Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at Good Shepherd in Little Rock offers a full range of services, including skilled nursing, rehab after surgery or illness, and long-term care, all provided by a caring and experienced team. Every resident has a personalized care plan that focuses not just on medical needs, but also on emotional well-being and quality of life.
Presbyterian Village
Sherwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
Mental Health Facilities
Argenta Counseling & Wellness
The BridgeWay
The Centers
Community Services
Springwoods Behavioral Health
Westrock Counseling
Nurse Practitioners
Zach Coco, APRN
New Path Mental Health & Wellness
Christa Jackson, APRN
Beyond Wellness
With a holistic approach to health care, Christa Jackson discovered her passion for both men’s and women’s health, quickly realizing her calling in helping patients achieve and maintain optimal well-being. Jackson firmly believes in listening, educating and empowering her patients to protect and restore their health. She specializes in a range of areas, including weight management, peptide therapy, hormone optimization, laser therapies, body contouring, microneedling, radio frequency microneedling, hair restoration, joint injections and injectables. Jackson finds fulfillment in her work, where she can integrate her faith into her practice.
Danielle Lynch, APR
Renew Mental Health and Wellness
Necie Reed, APRN
Conway Regional Hendrix Medical Clinic
Necie Reed is a certified family nurse practitioner at Conway Regional Hendrix Medical Clinic, where she provides compassionate, community-focused care to college students and the broader Conway community. A graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, she has both a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Nursing Science. Prior to her current role, she served as director of student health services at Hendrix College in Conway for 12 years.
Physicians
Omar T. Atiq, M.D.
UAMS
Dr. Omar T. Atiq is a medical oncologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute in Little Rock and a distinguished professor in the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine Division of Hematology and Oncology. He also holds the Omar T. Atiq, M.D., MACP, Distinguished Chair in Physician Leadership. In 2023, he became the first Arkansan to serve as president of the American College of Physicians, the largest medical specialty organization in the nation.
Rosemay Batta-Mpouma, M.D.
Washington Regional Shiloh Clinic
Anthony Fletcher, M.D.
CHI St. Vincent Heart Clinic Arkansas
Chen Huang, M.D.
North Arkansas Regional Medical Center
Carroll Scroggin, M.D.
NEA Baptist Fowler Family Center for Cancer Care
Dr. Carroll Scroggin plays a key role in teaching within the community-based internal medicine residency program at NEA Baptist Clinic in Jonesboro. He serves as medical director for a local hospice and an educator for physicians on end-of-life care. He earned his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock in 1985 and completed his internal medicine residency and fellowship in hematology/oncology at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute there in 1991. Scroggin was recently awarded the Robert Shields Abernathy Laureate Award from the American College of Physicians.
Physician Assistants
Eva Barlogie, PA-C
Arkansas Children’s
Eva Barlogie graduated with honors from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock in 2015. She began her career in plastic surgery at UAMS in 2016 and has been with the burn surgery team at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock for the past six years. Eva treats pediatric and adult patients, guiding them from critical care to rehab. Outside of work, she enjoys outD.O.or exercise and spending time with her two children, Oliver and Charley.
Maggie Brown, PA-C
OrthoArkansas
Jared Elmquist, PA
Conway Regional Health System
Jared Elmquist is a physician assistant at Conway Regional Surgical Associates. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway in 2013 and completed his Master of Physician Assistant studies at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock in 2021. Jared brings 12 years of experience in the operating room and is eager to support patients in any way he can. He also serves as a preceptor for physician assistant students from various programs.
Brooke Money
Conway Regional Renaissance Women’s Center
Brooke Money provides compassionate, comprehensive care at Conway Regional Renaissance Women’s Center. A graduate of the physician assistant program at Harding University in Searcy, she is passionate about educating women about their health through every stage of life. She values building strong patient relationships, addressing a wide range of women’s health needs and making a difference during significant life events of her patients.
Bailey Pollock, PA-C
Franks Dermatology
Registered Nurses
Sidney Bennett, RN
Beyond Wellness
Sidney Bennett, a registered nurse and seasoned aesthetic injector at Beyond Wellness in west Little Rock, embodies a growth-oriented mindset that has propelled her career forward. Her journey into aesthetics began during her time at a dermatologist’s office, where she discovered a passion for enhancing natural beauty. As a dedicated aesthetic nurse injector with more than six years of extensive experience in Little Rock, Sidney is passionate about helping her patients achieve their personal beauty goals. Throughout her career, she has developed a deep expertise in advanced cosmetic procedures, including dermal fillers, neurotoxins and regenerative therapies, always prioritizing safety and natural-looking results.
Bradley Heird, MHA, BSN, RN
Baptist Health
Bradley Heird serves as nurse manager at Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock, where she oversees patient care, aligns work schedules and makes strategic personnel decisions, which are pivotal in streamlining nursing operations and enhancing staff retention. He joined Baptist Health as a registered nurse in 2018. Heird earned a master’s degree in health care administration from Western Governors University in Utah, a Bachelor of Science in registered nursing from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and a Bachelor of Science in dietetics and nutrition from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia.
Terri Imus, BSN, RN
UAMS
Terri Imus is director of operations for clinical telemedicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Institute for Digital Health & Innovation in Little Rock, where she works to help increase access to care, particularly in rural areas. She has played major roles in developing a host of critical digital health systems including Arkansas’ first high-risk obstetrics call center, the state’s first statewide digital stroke program, a statewide trauma image repository and video consultation programs for burn and hand trauma patients.
Paige Kelly, RN
Wright Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa
Rosa Zamora, BSN, RN, CPN
Arkansas Children’s
Rosa Zamora began her career at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway in 2011. She has worked in various care settings and has a passion for professional development. As nursing excellence manager, she supports nursing education, nursing research, transition to practice programs, career progression and magnet efforts. She is a 2024 “40 Nurse Leaders Under 40” honoree and enjoys traveling to new cities for concerts.
Rural Hospitals
Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart
Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart opened in 1957 and became a part of Baptist Health in 2009. The hospital has 49 licensed beds and is Medicare certified. The hospital’s emergency department is a Level IV trauma center, which means it has demonstrated the ability to provide advanced trauma life support (atls) prior to the transfer of patients to a higher-level trauma center. The staff is able to provide evaluation, stabilization and diagnostic capabilities for injured patients.
CHI St. Vincent Morrilton
Mercy Hospital Berryville
North Arkansas
Regional Medical Center
Ouachita County
Medical Center
Small Hospitals (50 beds or more)
Arkansas Children’s Northwest
Arkansas Children’s Northwest is the region’s only children’s hospital. Situated off Interstate 49 in Springdale, the hospital offers convenient access to families and visitors. In addition to offering a full range of pediatric medical services, the hospital provides expertise, compassion and amenities to allow the best outcomes for patients and families.
Arkansas Surgical Hospital
Arkansas Surgical Hospital is one of the only five-star hospitals in the state and ranks in the top 5 percent in the nation for patient experience. The hospital features 41 private patient suites and 13 state-of-the-art operating rooms. The surgeons’ specialties range from orthopedic and spine treatments to breast oncology and interventional pain management. The physicians at Arkansas Surgical Hospital perform more joint replacement procedures than any other hospital in the state while maintaining a lower-than-average infection rate.
CHI St. Vincent North
Magnolia Regional
Medical Center
Unity Health-Jacksonville
Surgeons
Dana Abraham, M.D., FACS
Arkansas Surgical Hospital
Dana Abraham is a surgeon with Arkansas Surgical Hospital and the owner of Abraham Breast Clinic in Little Rock, which she founded in 2007. A Little Rock native, she graduated from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire in 1989 before completing a general surgery residency and breast fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Society of Breast Disease and a member of the Association of Women Surgeons.
J. Camilo Barreto, M.D., FACS
CARTI
Ali Krisht, M.D., FACS
CHI St. Vincent Arkansas
Neuroscience Institute
Adam Norwood, D.O., FAAOS
Baptist Health
Adam Norwood is an orthopedic surgeon for Baptist Health-Stuttgart. He moved to Arkansas in 2023 from Port Orchard, Washington. He graduated from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
Lewis Porter, M.D.
Saline Surgery and Weight Loss Center
