Harriet Hawkins, Arkansas Hospice director of volunteers, has been appointed by Governor Mike Beebe to the Arkansas Division of Volunteerism Advisory Council. Hawkins has been with Arkansas Hospice since 2000 and became a certified volunteer manager in 2002. The Arkansas Division of Volunteerism is oriented toward supportive volunteer activities statewide and has one of the largest resource centers devoted to information on volunteerism. Services of the division are provided free of charge to state citizens.

 

The St. Bernards Center for Weight Loss has received 15 Gold Standard awards from Health Management Resources for excellence in a variety of HMR weight loss performance areas during the last year.

 

St. Bernards has partnered with Health Management Resources, a national healthcare company with 25 years' experience, to offer the medically supervised HMR weight loss program. It is the leading medically supervised weight loss program in the United States and is offered through major medical centers across the nation, including St. Bernards.

 

Awards include recognition citations for excellence in Healthy Solutions group attendance, Healthy Solutions vegetable and fruit compliance, Healthy Solutions meal replacement compliance, Healthy Solutions weekly summary compliance, clinic maintenance weekly summary compliance, clinic maintenance group attendance, clinic maintenance meal replacement compliance, clinic maintenance mid-week call compliance, clinic maintenance physical activity compliance, clinic maintenance triple imperative compliance, clinic maintenance vegetable and fruit compliance, Decision Free mid-week call compliance, Decision Free weight loss, Decision Free group attendance compliance and Decision Free weekly summary compliance.

 

Data was submitted for January through November of 2008.

 

The program is designed for individuals who wish to lose as few as 10 pounds or as many as 100 or more. Patients may choose a Decision Free program in which food plans utilize meal replacements and shakes only or a Healthy Solutions program in which they use meal replacements and shakes as a foundation, then add fruits and vegetables. An At-Home plan also is available.

 

LITTLE ROCK — Thomas E. Andreoli, M.D., a distinguished professor in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine, has been elected a fellow in the Royal College of Physicians (London).

 

Election as a fellow is one of the highest honors the Royal College of Physicians (London) can bestow and is limited to a maximum of 20 fellows per year. Founded in 1518 by King Henry VIII, the Royal College of Physicians (London) is the oldest scientific society in the world.

 

Andreoli, in the UAMS Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Physiology and Biophysics, received his medical degree from Georgetown University in 1960 and spent a decade at Duke University School of Medicine. In 1970, he was appointed professor of medicine and director of nephrology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine. In 1978, Andreoli was appointed professor and chairman of internal medicine at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

 

In 1988, Andreoli was named the professor and Nolan Chair in Internal Medicine at UAMS, a position from which he stepped down in 2004. Andreoli has received 35 teaching awards and serves as editor-in-chief of "Andreoli and Carpenter's Cecil Essentials of Medicine."

 

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh) in 2001 and holds the 2002-2003 George L. Ackerman Outstanding Faculty Award at UAMS. The Thomas E. Andreoli, M.D., M.A.C.P., Clinical Scholar Chair in Internal Medicine was established at UAMS in 2006 and the Thomas E. Andreoli, M.D., Visiting Professor in Internal Medicine was endowed in the UAMS College of Medicine in 2003. There also is an endowed Andreoli Chair and an Andreoli Visiting Professor in Nephrology at UAB.

 

Batesville — White River Medical Center (WRMC) has received funding from the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 (HR1105) passed by the House and Senate. The funding will provide upgrades to WRMC's mammography, breast biopsy capabilities, and expansion of the first floor, which includes upgrades to the cardiac catheterization equipment, facilities, and expansion of the Emergency Department.

 

Mammography is the best way to detect breast cancer for early diagnosis and best possible treatment outcomes. State-of-the-art digital mammography and stereotactic biopsy table technology will enable local physicians to make fast, accurate diagnoses. The digital image of the mammogram can be manipulated to provide optimal viewing and analysis by the physician. The technology will provide women in North Central Arkansas access to care they need, close to home.

 

WRMC's master facility plan addresses the need for patient privacy during the registration process, access to outpatient services, as well as quality and efficiency. The plan moves access points for many outpatient and surgical services away from the Emergency Department area of the hospital to a dedicated outpatient services wing as part of the ground floor expansion.

 

State-of-the-art digital cardiac catheterization equipment will provide high quality images to physicians, and renovations to the area will streamline staff efficiency for timely patient care and the best possible outcome.

 

Little Rock — The Arkansas Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) is unveiling its 2009-2010 slate of officers with terms beginning June 1, 2009.

 

The new Board Members include the following:

• President: Julie A. Carpenter, Administrative Director of Revenue Cycle for St. Vincent Health System in Little Rock, AR

• President Elect: William T. Couch Jr., FHFMA, CPA, Healthcare Partner with Hughes, Welch & Milligan, CPA's in Batesville, AR

• Secretary: Brent W. Beaulieu, CPA, Vice President of Finance with Baptist Health in Little Rock, AR

• Treasurer: Trisha G. Smith, CHFP, CPA, Assistant Controller, Washington Regional medical Center in Fayetteville, AR

• Director: Paula D. Archer, RHIA, Managing Consultant with BKD, Ltd. in Little Rock, AR

• Director: Jeannie K. Ware, CHFP, CPA, Assistant Controller with St. Joseph's Mercy Health System in Hot Springs, AR

• Director: Tracy Young, CPA, Manager with BKD, Ltd. in Little Rock, AR

• Director: Michael D. White, CHFP, Director at White River Medical Center in Batesville, AR

 

The new Board of Directors will be responsible for managing all chapter activities and for the overall operation of the chapter. They will ensure member needs are addressed and that a high quality level of activity is maintained.

 

LITTLE ROCK – Ozlem E. Tulunay-Ugur, M.D., a surgeon with fellowship training in head and neck cancer, has joined the faculty of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Medicine.

 

Tulunay-Ugur has been named an assistant professor in the Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery. She received her medical degree in 1997, graduating with honors.

 

She has completed a fellowship in head and neck cancer surgery and postgraduate training in laryngology. As a postdoctoral research fellow in 2004, she received the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health.

 

Tulunay-Ugur previously served as an assistant professor and director of laryngology in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at Wayne State University in Detroit. She also was a surgeon in the Karmanos Cancer Institute, a National Cancer Institute designated center, at Wayne State University and at the John D. Dingell Veterans Administration Medical Center in Detroit.

 

Her clinical interests include head and neck cancer; voice, swallowing and airway problems, and geriatric otolaryngology.

 

LITTLE ROCK – The first-ever Family Home Golf Classic is set for 11 a.m. April 23 at the Maumelle Country Club. The event will raise funds to provide temporary housing for patients at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

 

The entry fee for a two-person team is $400 and includes lunch and beverages. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in each flight. To register or for information, call Greg Ramer, event chairman, at (501) 766-7871.

 

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the UAMS Family Home, an independent, nonprofit agency that provides housing for patients at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and for parents of infants in the UAMS Medical Center's neonatal intensive care unit. The Family Home also houses a cancer support center that offers education and fellowship opportunities for UAMS cancer patients.

 

Al Assad Rasheed PhD has been appointed by the Board of the American College of Epidemiology to the Minority Affairs Committee of the American College of Epidemiology. This is a three year appointment from Roberta Ness, MD, MPH, president of the college. Dr. Rasheed is employed at the Microbiology Department of the Clinical Laboratory at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center.

 

SPRINGDALE — Anthony J. Woodruff, M.D., has been named Director of Surgical Robotics for Northwest Health System.

 

Dr. Woodruff has the distinction of being the only physician in Arkansas to have completed a fellowship that emphasizes robot-assisted surgery (Laparoscopic Urologic Oncology).

 

Dr. Woodruff, who joined Northwest Medical Center – Springdale's medical staff in October, comes to Northwest Health System from Seattle. He completed his medical education at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock. He then served a surgical internship and Urology residency at the Medical Center of Louisiana/Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation Hospital and Louisiana State University Charity Hospital in New Orleans and later completed his Laparoscopic Urologic Oncology fellowship at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle.

 

Dr. Woodruff practices at Northwest Arkansas Urology Associates (with partners Michael R. Wilson, M.D.; Chad Brekelbaum, M.D.; and Nirmal K. Kilambi, M.D., FACS).

 

New Outlook, the Cancer Recovery Program at St. Vincent, received a grant of $56,100 from Komen for the Cure Arkansas Affiliate on Fri. April 3, 2009. In addition St. Vincent New Outlook officially became a member of the Pink Ribbon Society of Komen. The Pink Ribbon Society is an honorary membership based on community leadership in the area of breast health and breast health awareness and given to recognize significant contributions to the state to advance the mission of the Komen organization.

 

LITTLE ROCK – Susan Jones has been named assistant director of the Department of Volunteer Services at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

 

Jones will assist with all aspects of volunteer services at the Cancer Institute, including working with its Auxiliary of more than 550 members. Auxiliary members volunteer regularly in waiting rooms and in the Auxiliary-run gift shop, as well as coordinating two annual fundraising events: Cooks Tour and Partners Card.

 

Jones previous served eight years as research assistant for the Arkansas Aging Initiative at the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging. Prior to that, she was project director for the PATCH Project: Program Against Teen Chewing, a National Cancer Institute-funded grant project at UAMS.

 

She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville with a degree in community health education.

 

LITTLE ROCK – Thaddeus Bartter, M.D., has been named professor and director of Interventional Pulmonology within the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division of the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

 

Prior to joining UAMS, Bartter was at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey where he was associate professor and director of the Pulmonary Diagnostic Laboratory and medical director of Respiratory Therapy.

 

Bartter's clinical interests include: lung cancer; management of pleural disease; bronchoscopy in the ICU; chronic cough (diagnosis and treatment); the clinical approach to chronic dyspnea; issues in pulmonary function testing; cardiopulmonary exercise testing; interventional bronchoscopy; airway obstruction debulking and stent placement; endobronchial ultrasound and mediastinal lymph node sampling; malignant pleural effusion; and medical pleuroscopy.

 

He received his medical degree from Tufts University of Medicine in Boston. He completed his residency at Jamaica Plain V.A. Hospital in Massachusetts, and a Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.

 

Bartter's board certifications include the American Board of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine.