JONESBORO - Pediatrician Justin Yancey, MD, has joined the medical staff of St. Bernards as a pediatric hospitalist.

In clinical practice in Jonesboro for the last couple of years, Yancey will be responsible for leading the way in improving access to high quality inpatient pediatric care at St. Bernards by developing the medical center’s pediatric hospitalist program. Noting that he enjoyed private practice, Yancey says his core interest is in inpatient medicine.

With the development of the pediatric hospitalist program, Yancey says, St. Bernards physicians will be able to care for many newborns, children and adolescents right here rather than sending them to children’s hospitals in Little Rock or Memphis. He points out that providing care locally will allow families to concentrate on getting their loved ones well without the added stress and expense of transportation and potential time away from other children and even work.

However, he will continue to work with Arkansas Children’s Hospital and LeBonheur for specialized care that cannot be given in the local setting.

In addition to providing care for pediatric inpatients, Yancey will serve as a resource to other hospital services – including the emergency department and surgical services. He also will work with University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences family practice residents in the Area Health Education Center-Northeast and students studying at the New York Institute of Technology D.O. School set to open on the Arkansas State University campus in the fall.

He earned his Medical Degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2011. Following that, the Helena native completed a residency in pediatrics at Georgia Regents University (formerly Medical College of Georgia).